Digambara monk
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Digambara Sādhu (also muni, sādhu) is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold sangha. They are also called Nirgranth which means "one without any bonds". Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which includes observance of the five supreme vows of ahimsa (non-injury), truth, non-thieving, celibacy and non-possession. A Digambar Sādhu is allowed to keep only a feather whisk, a water gourd and scripture with him.
In Jainism, those śrāvakas (householders) who wish to attain moksha (liberation) renounce all possessions and become an ascetic. According to the Jain text, Dravyasamgraha:[2]
Salutation to the Ascetic (Sādhu) abound in faith and knowledge, who incessantly practises pure conduct that surely leads to liberation.
— Dravyasaṃgraha (54)
Digambar Sādhus are also called nirgranth which means "one without any bonds".[3] The term originally applied to those of them who were on the point of attaining to omniscience, on the attainment of which they were called munis.[4]
Rishabhanath (the first Tirthankar) is said to be the first Digambar Sādhu of the present half cycle of time (avasarpini).[5] The presence of gymnosophists (naked philosophers) in Greek records as early as the fourth century BC, supports the claim of the Digambars that they have preserved the ancient Śramaṇa practice.[6] Bhadrabāhu, Āchārya Kundakunda are two of the most revered Digambar Sādhus.
Mūla Guņas (Root virtues)[]
Every Digambara monk is required to observe 28 mula gunas (lit. twenty-eight primary attributes) compulsory. These are also called root-virtues, because it is said that in their absence other saintly virtues cannot be acquired. They are thus like the root, in the absence of which stems and branches tuneless come into being.[7] These twenty-eight primary attributes are: five supreme vows (mahāvrata); five regulations (samiti); five-fold control of the senses (pañcendriya nirodha); six essential duties (Şadāvaśyaka); and seven rules or restrictions (niyama).
Mahavratas[]
According to Acharya Samantabhadra’s Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra:
Abstaining from the commitment of five kinds of sins (injury, falsehood, stealing, unchastity, and attachment) by way of doing these by oneself, causing these to be done, and approval when done by others, through the three kinds of activity (of body, speech, and thought), constitutes the great vows (mahāvrata) of celebrated ascetics.
— Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra (72)
- 1.Ahimsa
The first vow of a Digambara monk relates to the observance of ahiṃsā (non-injury). The monk is required to renounce himsa (injury) in all three forms:[8]
- Kŗita- He shouldn't commit any act of himsa (injury) himself.
- Karita- He shouldn't ask anyone else to do it for him.
- Anumodana- He shouldn't, in any way, encourage commission of an act of himsa by saying or doing anything subsequent to the act.
There were five types of Ahinsa as per scriptures. These are the negation of following: Binding, beating, mutilating limbs, overloading, withholding food and drink. However over the centuries, Jain monks and philosophers have added stricter meanings and implementations. The concept of Ahinsa is specially well expanded and made diverse in the scriptures dating afterwards 10th century AD.
The monk shouldn't injure any living being both in actions and thoughts.
- 2.Truth
A digambara monk must not say things which, though true, can lead to injury to living beings.
- 3. Asteya (Non-thieving)
Not to take anything if not given. According to the Jain text, Tattvārthasūtra, five observances that strengthen this vow are:[9]
- Residence in a solitary place
- Residence in a deserted habitation
- Causing no hindrance to others,
- Acceptance of clean food, and
- Not quarrelling with brother monks.
- 4. Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya refers to the self-control in respect of sex-function. It means avoiding all the kinds of natural and unnatural sex-gratification.[10]
- 5. Aparigraha
Renunciation of worldly things and foreign natures, external and internal[11]
