Temple of Satrunjaya

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 28

YATIS, PRIESTS, PRAYERS, CEREMONIES,
SECTS, ETC.
The Yati or Jati is an ascetic or devotee, analogous to the Brahmana
Sannyasi, but not properly a priest,-for though it is his duty to read and expound the Jaina śāstras to the Sravakas at the temple, 29 he performs none of the religious ceremonies. The Yatis are someitmes the children of Vanias or Kunbis, 30 who often devote them from their infancy ; sometimes they are the children of Brahmanas, Vanias, or Kunbis, purchased while young by the Yatis and trained by them; and occasionally they are dedicated in consequence of vows made by Vanias without children, who promise their first-born to their Sri Puj or High Priest, in hopes of obtaining further posterity. Whilst young the Yati is placed under a Guru, for whom he performs many domestic services. At a proper age he is initialed thus: He is conducted out of the town by crowds of Sravakas, with music and joy; he is placed beneath a tree with milky. juice--generally the Banian or Ficus Indica, and there surrounded by a circle composed exclusively of Yatis, who pull out the hair of his lock in five pulls31 applying camphor, musk, sandal, saffron and sugar to the place. He is next stripped naked and placed before his Guru, with his hands joined. The Guru pronounces a mantra in his ear, and he then receives the clothes of a Yati, a cloth (Guj. calotā, Sans civara) of a yard and a-half for his loins, one of two and a half yards for his head, a kambli or country blanket for his body, the tripuni or water-pot, a plate for his victuals, a cloth to tie them up in, a black rod (danda) to guard himself from hurt but not to injure others and a rajoharana or besom (oghā) to sweep the ground with. He does not return to his Guru till the next day. The Yati lives on charity and procures his food ready dressed from the houses of Sravakas-Brahmanas or Kunbis. He may purchase dressed food, but must not dress it for himself; he must not
29 It is the Yati's duty to perform sandhya at morning and evening twilight with
his face to the east, and during the ceremony no light must be admitted. 30 Kulambi or Kumbi--the chief agricultural caste in central, western,
and southern India. si In the Parsvanatha Caritra, Parsvanatha is described as tearing five handfuls of
hair from his head on becoming a recluse. Conf. Delamaine, Trans. Roy. Asiat. Soc., Vol I. p. 433.