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A Digambara monk or Digambara Sādhu (also muni, sādhu) is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold sangha. Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which includes observance of the five supreme vows of ahimsa (non-injury), truth, non-thieving, celibacy and non-possession. A Digambar Sādhu is allowed to keep only a feather whisk, a water gourd and scripture with him.
In Jainism, those śrāvakas (householders) who wish to attain moksha (liberation) renounce all possessions and become an ascetic. According to the Jain text, Dravyasamgraha:[2]
Salutation to the Ascetic (Sādhu) abound in faith and knowledge, who incessantly practises pure conduct that surely leads to liberation.
— Dravyasaṃgraha (54)
Digambar Sādhus are also called nirgranth which means "one without any bonds".[3] The term originally applied to those of them who were on the point of attaining to omniscience, on the attainment of which they were called munis.[4]
Rishabhanath (the first Tirthankar) is said to be the first Digambar Sādhu of the present half cycle of time (avasarpini).[5] The presence of gymnosophists (naked philosophers) in Greek records as early as the fourth century BC, supports the claim of the Digambars that they have preserved the ancient Śramaṇa practice.[6] Āchārya Bhadrabāhu, Āchārya Kundakunda are two of the most revered Digambar Sādhus.
- ^ Jain 2013, p. 197.
- ^ Jain 2013, p. 196.
- ^ B.K. Jain 2013, p. 62.
- ^ C.R. Jain 1926, p. 19.
- ^ B.K. Jain 2013, p. 31.
- ^ Zimmer 1953, p. 210.