Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. The monastic practices of the two major sects vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas (Great Vows), from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into the major denominations.
Terminology
Digambaras use the word Template:IAST for male monastics and aryika for female monastics. Digambara monks are also called nirgrantha (without bonds).Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Śvētāmbaras use the word sadhvis for female monastics.Template:Sfn
History
Mahavira had 11 chief disciples, Indrabhuti Gautama being the most senior.Template:Sfn Each chief disciple was made responsible for 250 to 500 monks.Template:Sfn The Jain sangha (community) was led and administered by an organised system consisting of acharyas (leaders), upadhyayas (teachers), sthaviras (motivators of self-discipline), pravartakas (preachers) and ganis (leader of smaller groups of monks).Template:Sfn Other titles included panyasa (canonical text experts), mahattara (female leader) and pravartini (female preacher).Template:Sfn
The leadership of Jain order passed from Mahavira to Indrabhuti, who was succeeded by Sudharma (607–506 BCE).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn After 12 years, it was further passed on to Jambu (543–449 BCE), Prabhava (443–338 BCE) and Shayyambhava (377–315 BCE).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Historians believe that a united Jain community existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into two denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara.Template:Sfn Acharya Kundakunda is the most revered acharya (preceptor) of the Duḥṣamā period of the present avasarpiṇī (descending) era.Template:Sfn The Kalpa Sūtra describes Mahavira's asceticism in detail; from it, most of the ascetic practices (including the restraints and regulations) are derived:[1]
Initiation
A Śvētāmbara initiation involves a procession in which the initiate symbolically disposes of his material wealth and makes donations. This is followed (or preceded) by another ritual in which the initiate receives an ogho (a small broom made of wool) from their mentor as a symbol of welcome into the monastic order.[2] The initiate then puts on monastic clothing and pluck out hairs by hand. Further rituals formally initiate them into the monastic order. The Śvētāmbara Terapanth And Sthanakwasi sect requests written permission from a person's parents before initiating them into the ascetic order.Template:Sfn
Rules of conduct
The earliest known texts often ask for ascetics to be in complete solitude, identifying the isolation of soul and non-soul. However, soon after Mahavira's nirvana ascetics organized themselves into groups.Template:Sfn A few examples of ascetics living in complete solitude are found in the Digambara sect.Template:Sfn Jain ascetics are detached from social and worldly activities; all activities are aimed at self-purification for self-realization. They follow established guidelines for daily worship and austerity.[2]Template:Better source needed
The monk's daily routine is broadly structured by three ideological formulae: the five great vows (mahavrata), the eight matrices of doctrine (pravacana-matrka), and the six obligatory actions (avasyaka). The first two are restrictions, and the third is positively framed in what the monk is encouraged to do daily.Template:Sfn Ascetics do not have a home or possessions.Template:Sfn They choose austerity, avoid services such as telephones and electricity.[3]Template:Better source needed Monks engage in activities such as meditation, seeking knowledge and acquiring self-discipline.Template:Sfn Jain monks and advanced laypeople avoid eating after sunset, observing a vow of ratri-bhojana-tyaga-vrata.Template:Sfn Digambara monks observe a stricter vow by eating only once a day.Template:Sfn
The Yati of the Śvētāmbara sect and the Bhattaraka of the Digambara Terapanth do not wander; they usually live in temples and perform daily rituals.Template:Sfn The monks rise before dawn, most around 5:00 a.m. but some as early as 2:00 a.m.
Five mahāvratas (Great Vows), from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics. Although Jain householders are also required to observe them, ascetics are bound more strictly.[4]
Template:AnchorRanks
Monks and nuns from the Digambara traditions are assigned to ranks:[5]
| Rank | Monk | Nun |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acharya | Ganini Aryika Pramukha |
| 2 | Elachary | Ganini Aryika |
| 3 | Upadhyay | Aryika |
| 4 | Muni | Mataji |
| 5 | Kshullak | Kshullika |
| 6 | Brahmachari | Brahmacharini |
| 7 | Śrāvaka | Śrāvika |
In the Digambara tradition, an ascetic rises from kshullak (one who uses two pieces of cloth) through Ailak (uses one piece of cloth) to muni (or sadhu). Over time a number of designations were mentioned in shastras, such as gani, pannyas and pravartak. The Śvētāmbara Terapanth sect has a new rank of junior monks, samana.Template:Sfn
Attire and possessions
Observing complete abstinence, male Digambara monks wear no clothing.Template:Sfn Aryikas wear plain, seamless white saris.Template:Sfn All Digambara monks and nuns traditionally carry only three things: a mor-pichhi (peacock-feather whisk), a kamandalu (water pot) and shastras (scriptures).Template:Sfn
Śvētāmbara monastics wear white, seamless clothing.Template:Sfn
Chaturmas
Template:Main Chaturmas is the four-month monsoon period during which ascetics stay in one place to reduce the risk of accidentally killing insects and other small forms of life which thrive during the rains. This period is suitable for sravakas to renew their faith by listening to teachings of the dharma, meditation and vartas (acts of self-control).[6]
During Chaturmas, a few sadhu of each group give a daily pravacana or vyakhyana (sermon) attended mostly by shravaka and shravikas (Jain followers). During their eight months of travel, the sadhus give sermons whenever requested (most often when they arrive in a new village or town in their travels).Template:Sfn
Digambara monks
Digambara monks follow 28 vratas (vows): five mahāvratas (Great Vows); five samitis (regulations); the five-fold control of the senses (pañcendriya nirodha); six Şadāvaśyakas (essential duties), and seven niyamas (restrictions).Template:Sfn
| Category | Vow | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mahavratas (Great Vows)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn |
1. Ahimsa | To injure no living being by action or thought |
| 2. Truth | To speak only the truth and good words | |
| 3. Asteya | To take nothing unless it is given | |
| 4. Brahmacharya | Celibacy in action, word and thought | |
| 5. Aparigraha | Renunciation of worldly things | |
| Samiti (regulation of activities)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn |
6. Irya | To walk carefully, after viewing the land four cubits (2 yards) ahead |
| 7. Bhasha | Not to criticise anyone or speak evil words | |
| 8. Eshna | To accept food from a sravaka (householder) if it is free of 46 faults | |
| 9. Adan-nishep | Carefulness in handling whatever the ascetic possesses | |
| 10. Pratishṭapan | To dispose of body waste at a place free of living beings | |
| Panchindrinirodh | 11–15. Control of the senses | Shedding attachment and aversion to objects based sparśana (touch), rasana (taste), ghrāṇa (smell), cakśu (sight), and śrotra (hearing)Template:Sfn |
| Essential dutiesTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn | 16. Sāmāyika | Meditate for equanimity towards every living being |
| 17. Stuti | Worship of the tirthankaras | |
| 18. Vandan | To pay obeisances to siddhas, arihantas and acharyas | |
| 19. Pratikramana | Repentance, to drive oneself away from past karma (good or evil) | |
| 20. Pratikhayan | Renunciation | |
| 21. Kayotsarga | Giving up attachment to the body, meditating on the soul | |
| Niyama (rules)Template:Sfn |
22. Adantdhavan | Not to use tooth powder to clean teeth |
| 23. Bhushayan | Sleep on hard ground | |
| 24. Asnāna | Not to take bath.Template:Sfn | |
| 25. Stithi-bhojan | Eat standing up | |
| 26. Ekabhukti | To take food once in a dayTemplate:Sfn | |
| 27. Keśa-lonch | To pluck hair on the head and face by handTemplate:Sfn | |
| 28. Nudity | To renounce clothingTemplate:Sfn |
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ The Kalpa Sūtra{{#if:Jacobi|, Jacobi}. The Clarendon Press(1884). ISBN 0-7007-1538-X Note: ISBN refers to the UK:Routledge (2001) reprint. URL is the scan version of the original 1884 reprint
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Welcome to Jainworld - Jain Monks nuns, Sadhu, Shraman, Muni, Sadhvi, Shramani, Ary�, Pranatip�taviraman Mahavrat, Mrishavadaviraman Mah�vrat, Adattad�naviraman Mahavrat , Maithunaviraman Mahavrat, Parigrahaviraman Mahavrat.
- ↑ Jainism at a glance.
- ↑ Pravin Shah, Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas) of Jainism Jainism Literature Center, Harvard University Archives (2009)
- ↑ Guardians of the Transcedent: An Ethnography of a Jain Ascetic Community{{#if:Valley|, Valley}. University of Toronto Press(2002)
- ↑ Indian merchants and entrepreneurs in historical perspective: with special reference to shroffs of Gujarat, 17th to 19th centuries. Academic Foundation.
Sources
- Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India. Oxford University Press(2001).
- The Jains. Routledge(2002).
- Digambaratva aur Digambar muni. Bharatiya Jnanpith.
- Sannyasa Dharma(1926).
- Acharya Umasvami's Tattvārthsūtra. Vikalp Printers.
- Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya. Vikalp Printers.
- Ācārya Nemichandra's Dravyasaṃgraha. Vikalp Printers.
- Gender and Salvation: Jaina Debates on the Spiritual Liberation of Women. University of California Press(1991).
- [[[:Template:Google books]] Jainism: The World of Conquerors]. Motilal Banarsidass(2004).
- A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India: From The Stone Age To The 12th Century. Pearson Education India.
- Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy: Jainism. Global Vision Publishing House.
- Secrets Of Jainism. Multy Graphics.
- Philosophies Of India. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd(1953).
External links
- List of All Digamber Jain Monks With detailed description
- Photo documentary of the Jain monks