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212: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
For a “Digambara" nun it is the same as for a "Svetāmbara" one, except that it is the “Ācārya” who pulls out openly all her hair when she returns in front of him with her white robe anii while she recites the “Namaskāra Mantra” without flinching. A powder is rubbed on her scull to help the scarring process and a white veil is given to her, which she covers the head and the neck with. She does not receive a “muhapatti" as her obedience does not wear any.
A “Digambara" laity arrived at the last step of spiritual level and who has taken the vow to become a monk or a novice and has been judged apt to receive that rite takes off his crown and all his garments in public and immediately after has all his hair torn out by the “Ācārya”. He receives as only possessions a “picchikā” and a “kamaņdalu”. As one can imagine this is a very painful process.
In September 2004, “Ahiṁsā Times” reported that a great "diksa" ceremony of Digambara nude ascetics, called "saints”, had been performed at Jabalpur on the 14th of August. It included 25 young male celibates of whom five held engineering degrees. One was a charter accountant thirteen were graduates or post-graduates in commerce, art or science. They hailed from different places in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The "dikṣā" was managed by Acharya Vidya Sagar who has a number of disciples, totalling now 215, of which 89 are skyclad “saints”. Recently too several Śvetāmbara young and old received also “dikṣā" at Surat by the learned Acharya Gunaratna Suri.
After the rite, if it is not monsoon time, monks and nuns are assigned by their “Ācārya” their places of wandering.
The admission in a Jain ascetic order may be put back into question either by a monk or a nun who wishes to leave or by the “Ācārya" when various transgressions or handicaps motive a temporary or a permanent exclusion.
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