Anojjā

Daughter of Mahāvīra in Śvetāmbara belief, who is also known as Priyadarśanā. Her father renounced the householder life to become an ascetic when she was a child. Later she married Jamāli, the son of her father’s sister, and the pair became the first followers of Mahāvīra. When her husband disagreed with some of Mahāvīra’s teachings, they left the community and caused a schism in his devotees. Later, Anojja decided that she agreed with Mahāvīra’s preaching and rejoined his disciples. She had a daughter called either Śeṣavati or Yaśovati. Digambara Jains believe that Mahāvīra never married and never had a child.

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