Article: Monastic equipment

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Śvetāmbara nun and her broom

This Śvetāmbara nun attends to her white cotton broom, called by the Sanskrit term rajoharaṇa or the Prakrit word oghā. All Jain mendicants use brooms to sweep the ground before sitting or lying down so they do not accidentally kill tiny living creatures. At her side in the photo on Flickr are some begging bowls – known by the Sanskrit word pātra –  Śvetāmbara mendicants use to receive alms from lay people.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clodreno/97085607/in/set-72057594061325828

Introduction to Jainism – part 2

This extract from a BBC documentary called The Frontiers of Peace explores the relationship between Jain traditions and modernity. A Jain lay man tells how he reconciles his faith with his industrial business interests. A Śvetāmbara monk explains the significance of his monastic broom – known as a rajoharaṇa or oghā – including the eight auspicious symbols wrapped around the handle. A nun leads lay followers in the rite of confession – pratikramaṇa. A young woman creates auspicious symbols in rice as an offering as she talks about her decision to become a nun. This 2010 YouTube video is the second of four parts. See the next part at: www.youtube.com/watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHMQRmRKh_U

Five Great Monastic Vows

Pravin K. Shah writes about the Five Great Vows taken by Jain monks and nuns. The information is provided by the Jainism Literature Center, associated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.

http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/jainedu/5greatvows.htm

Digambara monk receives alms

This video on YouTube shows the ancient Digambara ritual of seeking and receiving alms. After witnessing an idol of a Jina being anointed –the abhiṣeka or abhishek ceremony – a naked Digambara monk seeks alms accompanied by novices wearing white robes. The monk carries only his water pot – kamaṇḍalu – and peacock-feather broom – piñchī. While the muni performs the full alms-receiving ritual, the novices eat alms in the usual Indian style of eating. The video underlines the importance for lay Jains of giving alms to mendicants. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGI-g7XHR1o

Terāpanthin monks and nuns

This YouTube video shows Śvetāmbara Terāpanthin monks and nuns walking down a street in New Delhi in July 2009. Clad in white and wearing the mouth cloth – muṃhpatti – they walk barefoot, carrying their monastic equipment in bags and bundles. They are accompanied by lay Jains, many of the women dressed in orange, which is a holy colour in India. Among the monks is Ācārya Mahāprajña, the tenth ācārya or leader of the sect, who died in May 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzZ_SHDSrAI

Mahavir Aradhana Kendra - museum

The museum at the Mahavir Aradhana Kendra displays the equipment used by Gacchādhipati Ācārya Śrī Kailāsaāgara-sūrīśvara Mahārāj, among other exhibits. Information about opening hours, holdings and directions to the institute in Koba, near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, is on the website.

http://www.kobatirth.org/jainmuseum.aspx

Group initiation of Digambara monks – part 3

Towards the end of their group ceremony of renunciation – dīkṣā – 25 new Digambara monks have their heads anointed with sandalwood paste. The monk Vidyāsāgar, who is initiating them, traces the auspicious symbols of swastikas and four dots on their heads and palms. Then he blesses the new monks and newly initated novices – kṣullaka – who are dressed in white. He also consecrates their water pots – kamaṇḍalu. Both groups of mendicants hold their characteristic peacock-feather brooms – piñchī. Found on YouTube, this collective ceremony in Hindi took place on 21 August 2004 in the so-called Dayoday Tirth, Delwara Ghat, in the town of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh on the bank of the river Narmada. Watch the final part at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QCfjoyWbLk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0WeUJici30&NR=1

Group initiation of Digambara monks – part 4

At the end of their group ceremony of renunciation – dīkṣā – 25 new Digambara monks are blessed by their teacher Vidyāsāgar. He also consecrates their water pots –kamaṇḍalu – and blesses some newly initated novices – kṣullaka – who are dressed in white. Both groups of mendicants hold their characteristic peacock-feather brooms – piñchī. The new monks have ritually taken off their clothes, which is a sign of advanced spirituality in Digambara Jainism. Then Vidyāsāgar preaches to the assembly of lay Jains. White-clad nuns – āryikā – are at the front of the crowd. Found on YouTube, this collective ceremony in Hindi took place on 21 August 2004 in the so-called Dayoday Tirth, Delwara Ghat, in the town of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh on the bank of the river Narmada. Watch the first part of the ceremony at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txYBw9ke-aU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QCfjoyWbLk