Jain monasticism
Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community. The term nirgrantha was used for Jain monks in the past. The monastic practices of two major sects vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas, from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into two denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara.
Observing complete abstinence, male Digambara monks wear no clothing. Aryikas wear plain, seamless white saris. All Digambara monks and nuns traditionally carry only three things: a mor-pichhi, a kamandalu and shastras. Śvētāmbara monastics wear white, seamless clothing.
Terminology
Digambaras use the word for male monastics and aryika for female monastics. Digambara monks are also called nirgrantha. Śvētāmbaras use the word sadhvis for female monastics.History
had 11 chief disciples, Indrabhuti Gautama being the most senior. Each chief disciple was made responsible for 250 to 500 monks. The Jain sangha was led and administered by an organised system consisting of acharyas, upadhyayas, sthaviras, pravartakas and ganis. Other titles included panyasa, mahattara and pravartini.The leadership of Jain order passed from Mahavira to Indrabhuti, who was succeeded by Sudharma. After 12 years, it was further passed on to Jambu, Prabhava and Shayyambhava.
Historians believe that a united Jain community existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into two denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. Acharya Kundakunda is the most revered acharya of the Duḥṣamā period of the present avasarpiṇī era. The Kalpa Sūtra describes Mahavira's asceticism in detail; from it, most of the ascetic practices are derived:
Initiation
A Śvētāmbara initiation involves a procession in which the initiate symbolically disposes of his material wealth and makes donations. This is followed by another ritual in which the initiate receives an ogho from their mentor as a symbol of welcome into the monastic order. The initiate then puts on monastic clothing and pluck out hairs by hand. Further rituals formally initiate them into the monastic order. The Śvētāmbara Terapanth sect requests written permission from a person's parents before initiating them into the ascetic order.Rules of conduct
The earliest known texts often ask for ascetics to be in complete solitude, identifying the isolation of soul and non-soul. However, soon after Mahavira's nirvana ascetics organized themselves into groups. A few examples of ascetics living in complete solitude are found in the Digambara sect. Jain ascetics are detached from social and worldly activities; all activities are aimed at self-purification for self-realization. They follow established guidelines for daily worship and austerity.The monk's daily routine is broadly structured by three ideological formulae: the five great vows, the eight matrices of doctrine, and the six obligatory actions. The first two are restrictions, and the third is positively framed in what the monk is encouraged to do daily. Ascetics do not have a home or possessions. They choose austerity, avoid services such as telephones and electricity. Monks engage in activities such as meditation, seeking knowledge and acquiring self-discipline. Jain monks and advanced laypeople avoid eating after sunset, observing a vow of ratri-bhojana-tyaga-vrata. Digambara monks observe a stricter vow by eating only once a day.
The Yati of the Śvētāmbara sect and the Bhattaraka of the Digambara Terapanth do not wander; they usually live in temples and perform daily rituals. The monks rise before dawn, most around 5:00 a.m. but some as early as 2:00 a.m. In observance of utsarg-samiti, defecation takes place in the open where feces does not harm living creatures; urination is into a shallow pan, which is emptied onto a dry patch of ground.
Five mahāvratas, from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics. Although Jain householders are also required to observe them, ascetics are bound more strictly.
Ranks
Monks and nuns from the Digambara traditions are assigned to ranks:| Rank | Monk | Nun |
| 1 | Acharya | Ganini Aryika Pramukha |
| 2 | Elachary | Ganini Aryika |
| 3 | Upadhyay | Aryika |
| 4 | Muni | Mataji |
| 5 | Kshullak | Kshullika |
| 6 | Brahmachari | Brahmacharini |
| 7 | Śrāvaka | Śrāvika |
In the Digambara tradition, an ascetic rises from kshullak through Ailak to muni. Over time a number of designations were mentioned in shastras, such as gani, pannyas and pravartak. The Śvētāmbara Terapanth sect has a new rank of junior monks, samana.
Attire and possessions
Observing complete abstinence, male Digambara monks wear no clothing. Aryikas wear plain, seamless white saris. All Digambara monks and nuns traditionally carry only three things: a mor-pichhi, a kamandalu and shastras.Śvētāmbara monastics wear white, seamless clothing.
Chaturmas
Chaturmas is the four-month monsoon period during which ascetics stay in one place to reduce the risk of accidentally killing insects and other small forms of life which thrive during the rains. This period is suitable for sravakas to renew their faith by listening to teachings of the dharma, meditation and vartas.During Chaturmas, the chief sadhu of each group gives a daily pravacana or vyakhyana attended mostly by women and retired men but on special days by most of the lay congregation. During their eight months of travel, the sadhus give sermons whenever requested.
Digambara monks
Digambara monks follow 28 vratas : five mahāvratas ; five samitis ; the five-fold control of the senses ; six Şadāvaśyakas, and seven niyamas.| Category | Vow | Meaning |
| Mahavratas | 1. Ahimsa | To injure no living being by action or thought |
| Mahavratas | 2. Truth | To speak only the truth and good words |
| Mahavratas | 3. Asteya | To take nothing unless it is given |
| Mahavratas | 4. Brahmacharya | Celibacy in action, word and thought |
| Mahavratas | 5. Aparigraha | Renunciation of worldly things |
| Samiti | 6. Irya | To walk carefully, after viewing the land four cubits ahead |
| Samiti | 7. Bhasha | Not to criticise anyone or speak evil words |
| Samiti | 8. Eshna | To accept food from a sravaka if it is free of 46 faults |
| Samiti | 9. Adan-nishep | Carefulness in handling whatever the ascetic possesses |
| Samiti | 10. Pratishṭapan | To dispose of body waste at a place free of living beings |
| Panchindrinirodh | 11–15. Control of the senses | Shedding attachment and aversion to objects based sparśana, rasana, ghrāṇa, cakśu, and śrotra |
| Essential duties | 16. Sāmāyika | Meditate for equanimity towards every living being |
| Essential duties | 17. Stuti | Worship of the tirthankaras |
| Essential duties | 18. Vandan | To pay obeisances to siddhas, arihantas and acharyas |
| Essential duties | 19. Pratikramana | Repentance, to drive oneself away from past karma |
| Essential duties | 20. Pratikhayan | Renunciation |
| Essential duties | 21. Kayotsarga | Giving up attachment to the body, meditating on the soul |
| Niyama | 22. Adantdhavan | Not to use tooth powder to clean teeth |
| Niyama | 23. Bhushayan | Sleep on hard ground |
| Niyama | 24. Asnāna | Not to take bath. |
| Niyama | 25. Stithi-bhojan | Eat standing up |
| Niyama | 26. Ekabhukti | To take food once in a day |
| Niyama | 27. Keśa-lonch | To pluck hair on the head and face by hand |
| Niyama | 28. Nudity | To renounce clothing |