Gods, Myths and Heroes - Part 53

Jain Monks

The Jain religion is one of three ancient religions in India, distinct from Hinduism and Buddhism, though they all share the belief in reincarnation.

Jain monks are divided into two groups, one of which is the Digambara (literally, sky-clad) monks, who are completely naked.  Above, the revered monk Acarya Pushpadantasagara with his colleagues.

Digambara monks are naked at all times, including walking around in public, above.  Passers-by in India see nothing wrong with this.

The reason for nudity is that the monks have renounced all possessions, including clothes.  They only keep two things: first, a feather duster made of peacock feathers, which they use to brush insects out of the way so that they do not kill even the smallest thing, and second, a pot that contains only water.

Above, a monk blesses a novice.  The novice is not allowed to be naked until he becomes a full-fledged monk.  Being naked is an honor to be achieved, not something shameful.

A monk with disciples and nuns.  Only Jain monks are allowed to be naked; not disciples and not nuns.

A Digambara monk in New Delhi.  Note the swastika symbols.  To us Westerners, the swastika is a symbol of Nazi evil.  In India, the swastika has been used for thousands of years, and it has nothing to do with the Nazis.  It is an important symbol in the Jain religion, representing, among other things, the four destinies of souls in the cycle of death and rebirth: hellish beings, animals, humans, and heavenly beings.

Jain monks on a pilgrimage to Shravanabelagola, a holy site.

Another Jain monk on a pilgrimage to Shravanabelagola.

This is the temple at Shravanabelagola that they are heading to.  It features a naked statue of Bahubali, also called Gomateshwara.  Supposedly he was the first Jain monk to achieve Moksha (enlightenment) long ago.  He meditated for so long that vines grew up his legs and arms, as seen on the statue.  The 58-foot-tall statue, made in 981 AD, is said to be the tallest statue in the world carved out of a single piece of stone.

Every 12 years a festival is held there, and the statue is bathed and purified.  Above, Jain monks at the feet of the statue.

I won't go into the beliefs of the Jain religion, except to say that even for laypersons it prescribes some austerity, and it forbids killing any living creature.  As a result, all Jains are vegetarians.

Above, a gathering of Digambara monks in Delhi in 2014.  Jain monks are required to be celibate, but at least they can meet and hug naked.