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JAIN DIGEST .. May 2011
Fourth vow of Maithunaviraman Mahavrat means (unless specifically a specific tradition is they have to observe the celibacy with an absolute mentioned) follow the following lifestyle: adherence to it. The sadhu or sadhavis should not 1) Male Digamber monks do not wear any even touch a member of the opposite sex
clothes and are nude. They practice nonregardless of their age.
attachment to the body and hence wear no Parigrahaviraman Mahavrat - Vow of absolute clothes. Shwetamber monks and nuns wear Non-attachment.
white clothes, Shwetamber believe that monks
and nuns may wear simple un-stitched white Fifth vow of Parigrahaviraman Mahavrat means
clothes as long as they are not attached to they do not possess anything and do not have any
them. attachment for things they keep for their daily needs.
2) They are always bare footed and bare handed.
They do not use caps or umbrellas or put on Monks not only commit to follow the above vows,
boots, chappals or sandals. they will not ask others to commit actions resulting 3) Jain monks do not use vehicles of any sort. in such sins and will not support anybody
They travel on foot. committing such sins.
4) Jain monks do not possess any house. They In addition to the 5 Mahavrats, each ascetic also stay in Upashrayas of pausadhshalas or any takes the vow of three Guptis and five Samitis.
other similar place where they can perform The three Guptis are:
their spiritual practices. Managupti: Control of the mind
5) They do not stay permanently in any one • Vachanagupti : Control of speech
Upashrayas (place of temporary residence). Kayagupti: Control of body
The maximum they remain confined to one
place is for four months during the rainy The five Samitis are:
season. They move from one place to another • Trya Samiti : Carefulness while walking
during the remaining eight months and preach Bhasha Samiti : Carefulness while
religion to people. communicating
6) Shwetamber monks keep an Ogho (a small Eshana Samiti : Carefulness while eating
cloth broom) and a muhapatti (cloth to cover Adana Nikshepana Samiti : Carefulness
the mouth) with them and a stick when they while handling their flywhisks, water gourds, travel. The Shwetamber Sthanakvasi sects etc.
wear the muhapatti most of the times. Pratishthapana Samiti or Utsarga Samiti :
Digamber monks keep Morpichhi (peacock Carefulness while disposing of bodily waste feathers broom) and a Kamandal (small matter
wooden pot for water). The peacock feathers In almost all sects, new aspirants of Jain sadhutva Morpichhi used by Digamber monks have to undergo rigorous training prior to initiation. During be naturally shed by peacock and found on the that training, they learn about the Jain philosophy, ground. the Jain scriptures, and the special code of
7) Monks do not travel or go out of their conduct for monks and nuns. They learn to detach Upashrayas after sunset. themselves from all their worldly ties. The training 8) Jain monks do not take water or food before ensures that the candidates have determination
sunrise and after sunset. Shwetamber monks capability and the aptitude to withstand the
can take food, etc. 48 minutes after sunrise. hardships that a sadhu or sadhavi may have to
The Shwetamber monks collect their food from face during their lifetime. Once they get used to
different houses (Gochari) in wooden vessels, this life of detachment, they can decide to
and return to their Upashrayas to have food. undertake the role of sadhutva. They should not Digamber monks take food standing and with be under any pressure to make this decision. The the help of knotted upturned palms and in one final decision to accept an aspirant as sadhu or
house only where their sankalpa sadhavi lies in the hands of the Acharya. In
(preconceived idea) is fulfilled. Digamber Shwetamber Terapanth sect, the training aspirants monks have only one meal a day. are formally called Mumukshu. In the Digamber 9) Most Shwetamber monks drink only boiled tradition trainee ascetics are known as Ailaka or water. Certain Shwetamber Sthanakvasi Kshullaka. The Ascetics from most traditions
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