S is for Sadhu
Sadhu (monk) is a male religious
leader.
The sadhus are person like us but they have
voluntarily left the worldly life and have accepted five great vows* as
a code of conduct to purify his soul from karmas and in turn to uplift the
soul. The sadhus stay in upashraya. They do not cook for themselves and do not
eat any food that is cooked for them. They take only accepted food from
various houses. They give up attachment for their parents and relatives. The
sadhus keep a few clothes, a few bowls to collect food, rajohan (soft cotton
or woolen broom to clean), muhapati (mouth cover to protect fine living
beings). Some sadhus donot wear any clothes and they keep morpichhi (broom
made from shed off feathers of peacock) and kamandal (water utensil to wash
the feet). They do not keep money, jewelry, or own anything, e.g. house or
car. They do not keep anything more than what they need. They walk bare foot
so that they donot crush bugs or insects. The sadhus do not touch or sit with
ladies or girls. They do not stay in one place for more than a few days at a
time, except in rainy season. Svetambar sadhus wear white clothes while
Digambar sadhus do not wear any clothes.
They observe total Ahimsa, non-violence.
They tell the truth, observe the celibacy, and do not believing in
possessions. They follow strict code of conduct, study scripture, perform
meditation, and austerity to free their souls from the cycle of birth and
death. They go through a hardship to get rid of their karmas. They teach
people about our religion. Upadhyayas sadhus teach sadhus and sadhvis (a
female religious leader) about the scriptures. Acharyas are the heads
of all the sadhus and sadhvis and look after the Jain Sangh, that is made up
of sadhus, sadhvis, shravaks** and shravikas***.
We should always respect the Sadhus and Sadhvis
for all the discipline they have and for all that they teach us.
* look under V
** lay men and women
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