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For lay [[Jain]]s, who obviously marry and possess property, there is a corresponding set of five vows termed [[Anuvrata]]s. |
For lay [[Jain]]s, who obviously marry and possess property, there is a corresponding set of five vows termed [[Anuvrata]]s. |
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==Mahavira's asceticism== |
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The Jain text of [[Kalpasutra (Jainism)|Kalpasutra]] describes Mahavira's asceticism in detail, from whom most of the ascetic practices (including the gupti's and samitis) are derived:<ref>{{cite book | last =Jacobi | first =Hermann | authorlink =Hermann Jacobi | editor =(ed.) [[Max Müller|F. Max Müller]] | title =The Kalpa Sūtra | publisher =The Clarendon Press | date =1884 | location =Oxford | language =English: translated from Prakrit | url =http://www.sacred-texts.com/jai/sbe22/sbe2200.htm | series =[[Sacred Books of the East|Sacred Books of the East vol.22, Part 1]] | isbn =070071538X }} ''Note: ISBN refers to the UK:Routledge (2001) reprint. URL is the scan version of the original 1884 reprint''</ref> |
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{{Quote|The Venerable Ascetic Mahavira for a year and a month wore clothes; after that time he walked about naked, and accepted the alms in the hollow of his hand. For more than twelve years the Venerable Ascetic Mahivira neglected his body and abandoned the care of it; he with equanimity bore, underwent, and suffered all pleasant or unpleasant occurrences arising from divine powers, men, or animals.|Kalpa Sutra 117}} |
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{{Quote|Henceforth the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira was houseless, circumspect in his walking, circumspect in his speaking, circumspect in his begging, circumspect in his accepting (anything), in the carrying of his outfit and drinking vessel; circumspect in evacuating excrements, urine, saliva, mucus, and uncleanliness of the body; circumspect in his thoughts, circumspect in his words, circumspect in his acts; guarding his thoughts, guarding his words, guarding his acts, guarding his senses, guarding his chastity; without wrath, without pride, without deceit, without greed; calm, tranquil, composed, liberated, free from temptations, without egoism, without property; he had cut off all earthly ties, and was not stained by any worldliness: as water does not adhere to a copper vessel, or collyrium to mother of pearl (so sins found no place in him); his course was unobstructed like that of Life; like the firmament he wanted no support; like the wind he knew no obstacles; his heart was pure like the water (of rivers or tanks) in autumn; nothing could soil him like the leaf of a lotus; his senses were well protected like those of a tortoise; he was single and alone like the horn of a rhinoceros; he was free like a bird; he was always waking like the fabulous bird Bharundal, valorous like an elephant, strong like a bull, difficult to attack like a lion, steady and firm like Mount Mandara, deep like the ocean, mild like the moon, refulgent like the sun, pure like excellent gold'; like the earth he patiently bore everything; like a well-kindled fire he shone in his splendour.|Kalpa Sutra 118}} |
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==Chaturmas (VarshaYog) for Jain Monks== |
==Chaturmas (VarshaYog) for Jain Monks== |
Revision as of 18:03, 30 August 2011
Jain Muni or simply Muni is the term often used for Jain monks.[1]
A Jain monk does not have a permanent home and does not have any possessions. He wanders barefoot from place to place except for the four months of the rainy season. A Jain monk is not a priest; rather he is himself a worshipped one.
A full Jain monk in either Svetambar or Digambar tradition[2] can belong to one of these ranks:
- Acharya: leader of the order
- Upadhyaya: a learned monk, who both teaches and studies himself
- Muni: an ordinary monk
These three are mentioned is the three lines of the Namokar Mantra.
In the Digambar tradition, a junior monk can be a:
- Ailak: they use one piece of cloth
- Kshullak: they may use two pieces of cloth
The Svetambar Terapanthi sect has a new rank of junior monks who are called samana.
The nuns are called Aryikas in Digambar tradition and Sadhvi in the Svetambar tradition.
Mahavratas
The five Mahavratas are the five great vows Jain monks observe. They are:
- Non-violence (Ahimsa)
- Truth (Satya)
- Non-stealing (Asteya)
- Chastity (Brahmacharya)
- Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha)
Guptis and Samitis
Apart from the Mahavratas the monks also practices, three Guptis and five Samitis.
Three Restraints (Gupti)
- Control of the mind (Managupti)
- Control of speech (Vacanagupti)
- Control of body (Kayagupti)
Five Carefulness (Samiti)
- Carefulness while walking (Irya Samiti)
- Carefulness while communicating (Bhasha Samiti)
- Carefulness while eating (Eshana Samiti)
- Carefulness while handling their fly-whisks, water gourds, etc. (Adana Nikshepana Samiti)
- Carefulness while disposing of bodily waste matter (Pratishthapana Samiti)
The vows for the Jain monks, as prescribed by the ancient texts like Acharanga, are quite strict, and have come down to our time from the teachings of Lord Mahavira.
Jain monks are celibate, possess no property and are not attached to any specific place. They are thus required to wander, except for the four months during the rainy season (called chaturmasa).
For lay Jains, who obviously marry and possess property, there is a corresponding set of five vows termed Anuvratas.
Mahavira's asceticism
The Jain text of Kalpasutra describes Mahavira's asceticism in detail, from whom most of the ascetic practices (including the gupti's and samitis) are derived:[3]
The Venerable Ascetic Mahavira for a year and a month wore clothes; after that time he walked about naked, and accepted the alms in the hollow of his hand. For more than twelve years the Venerable Ascetic Mahivira neglected his body and abandoned the care of it; he with equanimity bore, underwent, and suffered all pleasant or unpleasant occurrences arising from divine powers, men, or animals.
— Kalpa Sutra 117
Henceforth the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira was houseless, circumspect in his walking, circumspect in his speaking, circumspect in his begging, circumspect in his accepting (anything), in the carrying of his outfit and drinking vessel; circumspect in evacuating excrements, urine, saliva, mucus, and uncleanliness of the body; circumspect in his thoughts, circumspect in his words, circumspect in his acts; guarding his thoughts, guarding his words, guarding his acts, guarding his senses, guarding his chastity; without wrath, without pride, without deceit, without greed; calm, tranquil, composed, liberated, free from temptations, without egoism, without property; he had cut off all earthly ties, and was not stained by any worldliness: as water does not adhere to a copper vessel, or collyrium to mother of pearl (so sins found no place in him); his course was unobstructed like that of Life; like the firmament he wanted no support; like the wind he knew no obstacles; his heart was pure like the water (of rivers or tanks) in autumn; nothing could soil him like the leaf of a lotus; his senses were well protected like those of a tortoise; he was single and alone like the horn of a rhinoceros; he was free like a bird; he was always waking like the fabulous bird Bharundal, valorous like an elephant, strong like a bull, difficult to attack like a lion, steady and firm like Mount Mandara, deep like the ocean, mild like the moon, refulgent like the sun, pure like excellent gold'; like the earth he patiently bore everything; like a well-kindled fire he shone in his splendour.
— Kalpa Sutra 118
Chaturmas (VarshaYog) for Jain Monks
Chaturmas means the four months of the monsoon, a practice observed by both Digamber and Shwetamber Jain monks and nuns. Chaturmas is related to the staying of the Jain monks and nuns in one place during this period. Because during this time the Jain monks and nuns have settled in the city/town for a longer duration, it is a suitable time for the householders to have an annual renewal of the faith by listening to the statement of the Dharma and by meditation and vartas (self-control). And for the Jain monks, almost as importantly, staying in one place during the monsoon reduces the risk of causing accidental death to numerous insects and smaller forms of life that thrive during the rains.
Famous historical Jain monks
Some of the famous Jain Acharyas in approximate chronological order, are:
- Gautam Ganadhara
- Ganahar Sudharma Swami
- Jambu Swami[4]
- Bhadrabahu (undivided sangha, Chandragupta Maurya was his disciple) (325 BCE)
- Sthulabhadra (Svetambar tradition)
- Ilango Adigal[5]
- Kundakunda, (Digambar tradition) (2nd century CE)
- Spolniodnos, (Digambar tradition) (3–4th century CE)
- Siddhasen Diwakar, (claimed by both) (5th century CE)
- Manatunga composer of Bhaktamar Stotra, (claimed by both)
- Haribhadra,(Svetambar tradition), (700–750 CE)
- Akalanka, (Digambar tradition), (620–680 CE)
- Virasena, (Digambar tradition), (790–825 CE)
- Jinasena, (Digambar tradition), preceptor of Rashtrakuta rulers, (800–880 CE).
- Nemichandra, (Digambar tradition)
- Hemachandra,(Svetambar tradition), preceptor of Kumarapala, (1089–1172 CE)
- Jagadguru Hira Vijaya Suri, (Svetambar tradition), who was invited by Akbar, the Mughal emperor
- Rajendrasuri (Svetambar tradition)(1827–1906)
- Acharya shri Ramchandrasuriji (Svetambar tradition)(Samvat 1952–2047).
- Acharya Shri 108 Aadisagarji Maharaj (Ankalikar)(Digambar tradition) (1866–1944)http://www.jainreligion.in/Jain_Muni/Aadisagarji_Maharaj.asp
- Shantisagar, (Digambar tradition) (1872–1955)
- Acharya Vidyasagar, (Digambar tradition) (Born 1946)
Famous historical Jain nuns
- Aryika Chandanbala
- Sadhvi Yakini Mahattara
Famous modern Jain monks
Some famous Jain monks currently living (sadhu or muni or maharaj) are as follows:
- List of All Digamber Jain Monks With detailed description
- Acharya Vidyanandaji
- Acharya Vidyasagarji [6]
- Panyasprabh Shree Chandrashekhar Vijayji Maharaj Saheb
- Upadhyay Sri Udarsagr ji Maharaj
- Muni sri Abhay Sagar ji Maharaj
- Muni sri Kshama sagar ji Maharaj
- Muni sri Saral sagar ji Maharaj
- Acharya Shri Vimal sagar ji Maharaj
- Acharya Shri Bharat sagar ji Maharaj
- Aacharya Shri Pushpadant Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Muni Shri 108 Pulak Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Upadhyay Muni Shri 108 Gupti Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Muni Shri 108 Praman Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Muni Shri 108 Arun Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Muni Shri 108 Prakarsh Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Shri 108 Dev Nandi Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Shri 108 Gyan Bhusan Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Shri 108 Sukumal Nandi Ji Maharaj
- Muni Shri 108 Nayan Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Bhikshu
- Acharya Jeetmal ji (Nickname – Jayacharya)
- Acharya Tulsi
- Acharya Mahaprajna
- Acharya viragsagarji maharaj
- Parampoojya Gurudev Shri 108 Vivarjan Sagar Munimaharaj
- Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Sanmati Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Acharya Sunil Sagar Ji Maharaj
- Jain Muni
Famous Jain nuns of 20th Century
- Ganani Arika Ratna 105 Vijayamathi Mataji
- Ganini Pramukh Shri Gyanmati Mataji
- Sadhvi Kanakprabha
- Sadhvi Acharya Chandana [7]
- Samani Charitra Pragya [8]
See also
References
- ^ Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India By John E. Cort, Published 2001 Oxford University Press US
- ^ Vallely, Anne (2002). Guardians of the Transcendent: An Ethnography of a Jain Ascetic Community, University of Toronto Press, p. ???
- ^ Jacobi, Hermann (1884). (ed.) F. Max Müller (ed.). The Kalpa Sūtra. Sacred Books of the East vol.22, Part 1 (in English: translated from Prakrit). Oxford: The Clarendon Press. ISBN 070071538X.
{{cite book}}
:|editor=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) Note: ISBN refers to the UK:Routledge (2001) reprint. URL is the scan version of the original 1884 reprint - ^ The Lives of the Jain Elders, Hemachandra, Trans. RCC Fynes, Oxford World's Classics, 1998.
- ^ Mohan Lal (2006) The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature (Volume Five (Sasay To Zorgot), Volume 5 Sahitya Akademi. 8126012218 p. 4098
- ^ http://vidyasagarji.jainsadhu.com Aacharya Shri VidyaSagarJi Maharaj
- ^ http://www.veerayatan.org/2b.htm Acharya Shri Chandanaji (1937-), Founder, Chief Director
- ^ http://religion.fiu.edu/People/Adjuncts.TAs/Samani%20Charitra%20Prajna.htm