Digambara

The Digambara monk Acharya Vidyasagar

A Digambara ( Sanskrit , m., दिगम्बर, digambara, translated: "in the air", "in the sky dress" or "clothed in the world") is a member of a predominantly monk religious group belonging to Jainism .

way of life

Badami - Cave 4, unfinished relief of the Jaina - Tirthankaras Bahubali / Gomateshvara. On both sides of the main character, servants with fly whales can be seen to some extent, whose symbolic content in this case goes beyond the pure symbols of sovereignty.

Members of the Digambara sect interpret the commandments of Jainism more strictly than the Shvetambaras , who are also devout Jainas. Digambaras, however, are stricter ascetics and advocates of the unrestricted right to exist of every living being. They therefore practice non-violence ( ahimsa ) very consistently and try to avoid accidentally killing or injuring other living beings, including insects. This happens through immobility, wearing a face mask and / or carrying fronds with which - before stepping on - the floor is swept.

Digambaras do not take part in professional or economic life and reject material possessions. They live partially or completely naked; hence the name Digambara - "air-clad".

In the center of the Shravanabelagola sanctuary near Mysore , the Jain ascetic Bahubali / Gomateshvara, completely undressed according to Digambara custom, is depicted - the ideal image of many Jainas. His motionless meditation even goes so far that tendrils wind up on his body.

See also

• Sadhu

literature

• Walther Schubring : Words of Mahavira. Critical translation from the Jain canon. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1926. (Ed. Religious History Commission at the Society of Science in Göttingen, Sources of Religious History Group 7, Volume 14)
• Heinrich Zimmer : Philosophy and Religion of India. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 1973, ISBN 3-518-27626-3 .
• Helmuth von Glasenapp : Jainism. An Indian religion of salvation. Olms, Hildesheim 1984, ISBN 3-487-00628-6 (Suhrkamp Taschenbuch, Wissenschaft; 26).
• Franz Bätz: Holy mountains, temple cities and ascetics. Jainism - a living culture of India. Weishaupt, Wolfsberg 1997, ISBN 3-7059-0049-8 .
• Adelheid Mette : The Jaina's doctrine of redemption: legends, parables, stories. Verlag der Welteligionen, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-458-70023-4 .

Web links

Commons : Digambara  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Digambara - history etc. (Eng.)