Digambara
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Digambara (/dɪˈɡʌmbərə/; Sanskrit "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being Śvētāmbara (white-clad).[1] The word digambara is a combination of two words: dig (directions) and ambara (clothes). Those whose, garment is the element that fills the four quarters of space is called digambara.[2] Monks in the Digambara tradition don't wear any clothes, as it is considered parigraha (possession) which ultimately leads to attachment.
Digambara monks carry pichi, a broom made up of fallen peacock feathers (for clearing the place before walking or sitting) and kamandala, a water gourd.[3]
The Digambara sect of Jainism rejects the authority of the Jain Agamas compiled by Sthulabhadra.[4] They believe that by the time of Dharasena, the twenty-third teacher after Indrabhuti Gautama, knowledge of only one Anga was there. This was about 683 years after the Nirvana of Mahavira. After Dharasena's pupils Pushpadanta and Bhutabali, even that was lost.[5]
According to Digambara tradition, Mahavira, the last tirthankara, never married. He renounced the world at the age of thirty after taking permission of his parents.[6] The Digambaras maintain that after attaining Kevala Jnana, omniscient beings or arihant are free from human needs like hunger, thirst, and sleep.[7] One of the most important scholar-monks of Digambara tradition was Kundakunda. He authored Prakrit texts such as the Samayasāra and the Pravacanasāra. Other prominent Acharyas of this tradition were, Virasena (author of a commentary on the Dhavala),[8] Samantabhadra and Siddhasena Divakara.[9][10]
The Satkhandagama and Kasayapahuda have major significance in the Digambara tradition.[11]
Contents
Monasticism[edit]
Every Digambara monk is required to follow 28 vows (vratas) compulsory.[12]
| Head | Vow | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mahavratas- Five Great Vows[13] |
1. Ahimsa | Not to injure any living being in actions or thoughts |
| 2. Truth | To speak truth and good words only | |
| 3. Asteya | Not to take anything if not given | |
| 4. Brahmacharya | Celibacy in action, words & thoughts.[14] | |
| 5. Aparigraha | Complete detachment from material property. | |
| Samiti- Fivefold regulation of activities[15] |
6. irya | To walk carefully after viewing land equal to 4 hands |
| 7. bhasha | Not to criticise anyone or speak bad words | |
| 8. eshna | To accept food from a sravaka if it is free from 46 faults | |
| 9. adan-nishep | Care in lifting things | |
| 10. pratishtapan | To dispose off the body waste at a place free from living beings | |
| Panchindrinirodh | 11-16 | Strict control on five senses |
| Six Essential Duties[16] | 16. Sämäyika | Meditate for equanimity towards every living being |
| 17. stuti | Worship of Tirthankaras | |
| 18. vandan | To pay obeisances to siddhas, arihantas and acharya | |
| 19. Pratikramana | Repentance | |
| 20. Pratikhayan | Renunciation | |
| 21. Kayotsarga | Giving up attachment to the body and meditate on soul. (Posture: rigid and immobile, with arms held stiffly down, knees straight, and toes directly forward)[2] | |
| Miscellaneous- Seven vows |
22. adantdhavan | Not to use tooth powder to clean teeth |
| 23. bhushayan | To rest only on earth or wooden pallet. | |
| 24. | Not to take bath | |
| 25. stithi-bhojan | Eat food in standing posture | |
| 26. ahara | To consume food & water once in a day | |
| 27. kesh-lonch | To pull out hairs by hand | |
| 28. nudity | To be nude ('digambar) |
Lineage[edit]
| Acharyas | Time period | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Bhadrabahu | 3rd century BC | Chandragupta Maurya's spiritual teacher |
| Kundakunda | 2nd century AD | Author of Samayasāra, Niyamasara, Pravachansara, Barah anuvekkha |
| Umaswami | 2nd century AD | Author of Tattvartha Sutra (canon on science and ethics) |
| Pujyapada | 5th century AD | Author of Iṣṭopadeśa (Divine Sermons), a concise work of 51 verses |
| Manatunga | 6th century AD | Creator of famous Bhaktamara Stotra |
| Virasena | 8th-century AD | Mathematician and author of Dhavala |
| Jinasena | 9th century AD | Author of Mahapurana (major Jain text) and Harivamsha Purana. |
| Nemichandra | 10th century AD | Author of Dravyasamgraha and supervised the consecration of the Gomateshwara statue. |
| Shantisagar | 20th century AD | Reformer of digambara tradition. |
Siribhoovalaya, a cryptographic work by the digambara monk, Kumudendu Muni is not yet deciphered completely.
In the 10th century, Digambar tradition was divided into two main orders.
- Mula Sangh, which includes Sena gana, Deshiya gana and Balatkara gana traditions
- Kashtha Sangh, which includes the Mathura gana and Lat-vagad gana traditions
Shantisagar, belonged to the tradition of Sena gana. Practically all the Digambara monks today belong to his tradition, either directly or indirectly. The Bhattarakas of Shravanabelagola and Mudbidri belong to Deshiya gana and the Bhattaraka of Humbaj belongs to the Balatkara gana.[17]
Historicity[edit]
Indus valley[edit]
Relics found from Harrapan excavations like seals depicting 'Kayotsarga' posture, idols in Padmasana and a nude bust of red limestone[18] give insight about the antiquity of the Digambara tradition.
In Literature[edit]
The presence of gymnosophists ("naked philosophers") in Greek records as early as the fourth century B.C., supports the claim of the Digambaras that they have preserved the ancient Sramāna practice.[2]
Worship[edit]
The Digambara Jains worship completely nude idols of tirthankaras (arihantas) and siddhas (liberated souls). The tirthankara is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the Kayotsarga posture.[19]
The truly "sky-clad" (digambara) Jaina statue expresses the perfect isolation of the one who has stripped off every bond. His is an absolute "abiding in itself," a strange but perfect aloofness, a nudity of chilling majesty, in its stony simplicity, rigid contours, and abstraction.
-
Kizhavalavu (Keelavalavu) Sculptures
_-Jain_Sculptures.JPG)
Statues[edit]
-
The 57 ft high Gommateshwara statue, Shravanabelagola
-
Tirthankara statues, Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
-
Tirthankara Parshvanath statue, Rajasthan
See also[edit]
- Nudity in religion
- God in Jainism
- Kshullak
- Jain Philosophy
- Timeline of Jainism
- Digambar Jain Mahasabha
Notes[edit]
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 23
- ^ a b c Zimmer 1953, p. 210.
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 316
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 444
- ^ Dundas 2002, p. 79.
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 313
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 314
- ^ Satkhandagama : Dhaval (Jivasthana) Satparupana-I (Enunciation of Existence-I) An English Translation of Part 1 of the Dhavala Commentary on the Satkhandagama of Acarya Pushpadanta & Bhutabali Dhavala commentary by Acarya Virasena English tr. by Prof. Nandlal Jain, Ed. by Prof. Ashok Jain ISBN 978-81-86957-47-9
- ^ Singh 2008, p. 524.
- ^ Gender and Salvation: Jaina Debates on the Spiritual Liberation of Women - Padmanabh S. Jaini - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ Dundas 2002, p. 63-64.
- ^ Pramansagar 2008, p. 189-191.
- ^ Jain 2011, p. 93-100.
- ^ Shah, Pravin. "Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas) of Jainism". Jainism Literature Center, Harvard University Archives (2009)
- ^ Jain 2012, p. 144.
- ^ Jain 2012, p. 143.
- ^ Jaina Community: A Social Survey - Vilas Adinath Sangave - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ Possehl, Gregory L. (2002). The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective. Rowman Altamira. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7591-0172-2. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Zimmer 1953, p. 209-210.
- ^ Zimmer 1953, p. 213.
References[edit]
- Singh, Upinder (2008), A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India: From The Stone Age To The 12Th Century, Pearson Education India, ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0
- Dundas, Paul (2002), Jains, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-415-26606-2
- Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2006), Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Infobase Publishing, ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5
- Jain, Vijay K. (2011), Tattvârthsûtra (1st ed.), (Uttarakhand) India: Vikalp Printers, ISBN 81-903639-2-1,
Non-Copyright
- Zimmer, Heinrich (1953), Joseph Campbell, ed., Philosophies Of India, London, E.C. 4: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, ISBN 978-81-208-0739-6
- Pramansagar, Muni (2008), jain tattvavidya, India: Bhartiya Gyanpeeth, ISBN 978-81-263-1480-5
- Jain, Vijay K. (2012), Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya, Vikalp Printers, ISBN 81-903639-4-8, archived from the original on 2012,
Non-Copyright
External links[edit]
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