Jain Monks and Nuns (Muni / Sadhu / Saadhvi)

When a person renounces the worldly life and all the attachments, and isinitiated into monkshood or nunhood, the man is called Sadhu, Shraman or Muniand the woman is called Sadhvi, Shramani, or Aryi.This process is also called as taking ‘Deeksha’ or Diksha.

When they get initiated into the life of Sadhus and Sadhvis, they take five major vows and act strictly in accordance with those vows. The five major vows are:1) Vow of absolute Non-violence.2)  Vow of absolute Truthfulness3) Vow of absolute Non-stealing4)  Vow of absolute Celibacy5) Vow of absolute Non-attachment.

A kshullak (or kshullaka, lit. small or junior) is a junior Digambar Jain monk

Santhara is a ritual in Jainism where a person voluntary fasts to death. It is a procedure in which a Jain completely stops eating or drinking with the intention of preparing for death. It is also known by the names of Sallekhana, Samnyasa

maran an Samadhi marana.

Examples of Jain Acharya’s / Sadhvi’sAcharya VidyanandajiAcharya Vidyasagarji [8]Acharya Shri Vimal sagar ji MaharajAcharya Shri Bharat sagar ji MaharajAacharya Shri Pushpadant Sagar Ji Maharaj

Ganini Pramukh Shri Gyanmati MatajiSadhvi sumangala shri ji maharajSadhvi yashobhadraa shri ji maharaj

Some special rules of conduct for sadhus and sadhvis

The Jain sadhus or sadhvis do not take food or water after the sunset or before sunrise. They wait 48 minutes after the sun-rise before even drinking boiled water.

Gochari (Alm): Jain sadhus/sadhvis do not cook their food, do not get it prepared for them, or do not accept any food which was prepared for them. They go to different householders that are Jains or vegetarians and receive a little food from each house. This practice is called Gochari. Some differences in practices of Digambers - All of them eat once a day from "Choka". These chokas are arranged by Householders and they invite Monks and nuns to accept the food from there. Digambar monks and elaks eat standing up and in their hands. Khulaks eat in one utensil. Nuns eat in their hand or in utensil.

Vihar: They always walk with bare feet. When they travel from one place to another, whatever may be the distance they always go walking. They do not use any vehicle like bullock cart, car, boat, ship or plane for traveling. Whether it is cold weather or scorching sun; whether the road is stony or thorny; whether it is the burning sand of a desert or a burning road, they do not wear any foot-wear at any time.

They do not stay more than a few days in any one place except during the rainy season which isabout four months in duration. The sadhus and sadhvis generally do not go out at night. The place where they stay is called Upashray or Paushadh Shala. The reason they do not stay anywhere permanently or for a longer period in one place is to avoid developing attachment for material things and the people around them

Chaturmas means the four months of the monsoon, during which ascetics stay in one place. 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.

LochThe Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis after receiving the Diksha (initiation) do not cut their hair or shave their heads; nor do they get these things done by a barber. But twice a year or at least once a year at the time of Paryushan, they pluck off their hairs or they get the hairs plucked by others. This is called Keshlochan or Loch. This way they are not dependent on others to carry out their needs. It is also considered as one kind of austerity where one bares the pain of plucking of the hairs calmly.

Clothing: They always wear un-stitched or minimally stitched white clothes. Some Jain sadhus do not wear the clothes.Those who wear clothes have a muhapati a square or rectangular piece of cloth of a prescribed measurement either in their hand or tied on their face covering the mouth. They also have Ogho or Rajoharan (a broom of woolen threads) to clean insects around their sitting place or while they are walking. Sadhus who do not wear any clothes have morpichhi and kamandal in their hands

Some special rules of conduct for sadhus and sadhvis

Born as Vidyadhar, 10 October 1946 on sharad Purnima in Sadalga, District Belgaum, Karnataka. His father was Shri Mallappa, who later became Muni Mallisagar and eventually attained samadhi.

His mother Shrimati later became Aryika Samayamati, who has also attained samādhi.

He was initiated as a monk by Acharya Gyansagar, who belonged to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar, in Ajmer in 1968. He was elevated to the Acharya status in 1972.

कं� जू�स अपना धना जू�ड-जू�ड कंर दूसर� कं� छो�ड जूता है�, उसस� बड दाना� कं�ना है�गा।

Who will be a greater donor than a miser who accumulating wealth leaves it for others?

Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji maharaj

Munishri Kshamasagar Ji, the disciple of Acharya Shri Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj is among one of the most respected Jain Munis.

Muni Kshamasagar ji, an M.Tech. from the Sagar University, renounced all the worldly pleasures and material belongings to become an ascetic at the tender age of 23 to tread on the path of peace and salvation as propagated by his Guru Acharya Shri Vidhyasagar ji Maharaj

Gender : MaleBirth: 20 Sep.1957, Sagar (M.P.)Education: M.Tech, Sagar UniversityBirth name: Virendra Kr. SinghaiMother: Smt.Asha DeviFather: Sh.Jeevan Kr. SinghaiKshullak Diksha: Nainagiri,10 Jan.1980Ailak Diksha: Muktagiri, 7 Nov.1980Muni Diksha: Nainagiri, 20 Aug.1982

Munishri Kshamasagar Ji

•Please be on Time – Meeting starts11:00AM EST.

•Host will be responsible for Adult discussion preparation. They are expected to present from any of the available topics.

•Kids corner to have designated volunteers for each meeting They will prepare the kids on any of the topics of interest from the curriculum (to be posted).

•Regular attendance will help maintain consistency around discussions.

•Website Launched – www.trianglejains.com.

•Environmental friendly paper products. – Need to continue in 2013.•Upcoming Events announcements•Feedback / observations received. (Do not leave discussion until its over)

Kids Corner•Encourage your kids to participate. Build leadership skills !•Variety of activities for kids of all ages.•Parents - take initiative !

!! Suggestions / Feedback / Concerns !! Please let all know.

Triangle Jains - Monthly meeting format & organizational needs

Meeting Starts 11:00 AM EST – Every 2nd Sunday of each month.11:00 – 11:45 Namokaar Mantra, Group Bhajans, Aarti11:45-11:55 Bhaktambar Stotra translation11:55 – 12:20 Kids Corner 12:20 – 1:00 PM Group discussion (Adults present)

General format for each meeting - Adults present kids friendly version  12:20 – 1:00 PM  

Bhaktambar stotra translation - 1 stotra each meeting 10 min  

Discussion / presentation topic 35 min  

     

Sample Agenda 2013 Month Lead Presenter

     

Introduction to Jain Sadhus & Sadhvi’s Jan 2013Vigyan@parimal place

Karma Theory – Jain View

Deeper dive - Jainism historical perspective

Meditation – Jain View 

Non Violence – Jain thoughts and philosophy 

Intro to Jain Granths 

Common Jain rituals and reasoning / pooja veedhi 

Jain Festivals – Why and How do we celebrate 

Jain siddhanths /philosophy (Simple concepts / stories) 

Annual Review 

 

Triangle Jains Monthly Meeting - Group discussions