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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
is most prevalent in South India, Karnāṭaka and Mahārāshṭra than in other parts of India will be evident from the number of Digambara Jainas observing the custom out of the total number of Digambara Jainas who have sent their replies. Thus 12 persons out of 12 Digambara Jainas, who have forwarded their replies, from South India, 21 out of 27 from Mahārāshtra and Katnāṭaka, 9 out of 18 from Central India, 5 out of 11 from North India, and 2 out of 11 from Gujaratha are reported to be observing the custom. In Central, Northern and Western India the custom of wearing sacred thread does not seem to be confined to members of a particular Digambara Jaina caste. The members of castes like Paravara, Pallivāla, Agravāla, Khaṇḍelavāla, Hummaḍa, Bannore, Dhakaḍa and Bagheravāla are reported to be following the custom. But. the custom does not appear to be widespread in these castes as it is in the castes of South India, Karnataka and Maharashtra, mentioned above. As regards the significance of this custom there is no uniform opinion about it. The majority of Digambara Jainas considers that there is a definite religious motive in wearing a sacred thread. They regard the sacred thread as a symbol of Ratnatraya, that is, the three jewels of Jainism, namely, Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, and as a mark of Śrāvaka, that is, a Jaina layman. It means that one who wears it has to understand that one has to follow the right path of salvation by observing the six daily duties of a Jaina layman. It is also regarded as '27 Tattvarupa', that is, an embodiment of 27 Tattvas which are made of 7 Tattvas, 6 Dravyas, 9 Padarthas and 5 Astikayas. Some consider it as Dvijatichinha, that is, an indication of the twice-born. On the contrary, some Digambara Jainas consider that the wearing of sacred thread has no connection with the Jaina religion at all and a few go to the extent of declaring to the effect that they do not wear sacred thread because the custom is a part of Hindu culture.
38. JAINA PRIESTS
The question number 40 is concerned with the custom of using by the Jainas the services of a Brahmin priest at the time of performance of ceremonies like birth, initiation, marriage, etc. in their homes and at the time of doing daily 'Puja' or worship and Abhisheka' or anointing the idol of God in their temples. From the replies it will be observed that the custom of employing
