ABSTRACT
Jains venerate virtuous women (satis) who are virtuous and who, through their virtue, protect, promote, or merely uphold Jain values and the Jain religion. This chapter examines the discourse of satis and the ways sati discourse manifests itself in the Jain tradition. Four short texts were chosen for discussion because they were the most commonly found sati lists and were used in ritual performances. They are the Brahmi Candanbalika, the Sol Sati no Chand, the Bharahesara ni Sajjhay, and the Sata Sati ni Sajjhay. The four sati lists display both a fluidity and an inclusivity within their collectivities of satis. This combination of fluidity and inclusivity suggests that sati lists serve as a representation of the totality of virtue as well as the collectivity of virtuous women. When juxtaposed with collectivities of virtuous men, sati lists illuminate the gendered implications of virtue.
