“BHIKSHU DAYA”

“BHIKSHU DAYA”
EVENT TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, 21ST AUGUST 2011
WITH THE BLESSINGS OF HIS HOLINESS SRI GAUTAM
MUNIJI ‘PRATHAM’ & SRI VAIBHAV MUNIJI
EVENT VENUE: SRI VARDHMAN STHANAKVASI JAIN SHRAVAK
SANGH, OPP TO HP PETROL BUNK, HANUMANTHNAGAR,
BANGALORE – 560019. TEL: 080-22427639
EVENT TIME: 8AM TO 8PM
CONTACTS FOR THE EVENT:
1. SRI H GHEWARCHAND JAIN – PRESIDENT – 9343724755
2. SRI PADAM RAJ MEHTA – SECRETARY – 9900162517
3. SRI ROSHAN KUMAR BAFNA – CHAIRMAN –
“BHIKSHU DAYA”- 9845044370
4. SRI UTTAM BOHRA – CO-ORDINATOR –
“BHIKSHU DAYA” - 9900154000
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Ever thought as to how a day would be in a Jain monk's life? There would
be no mobiles, no devices, no friends, no family and no pleasures. This is
what over 1,000 Jain businessmen, students, and professionals will try to be
on Sunday and renounce one day from their life in a bid to attain salvation.
They will lead a life of a monk as part of ‘Bhikshu Daya', a programme
to be organised by Sri Vardhman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh,
Hanumanthnagar. Sporting monks' white attire, putting muppati & carrying
a hand tool (a special broom to sweep away insects from their path), they
will roam around lanes and by lanes of Hanumanthnagar and collect food
from Jain community households and consume it as part of the rituals.
This apart, all the 1000-odd ‘monks’ aged from 7 to 60 years will spend
the entire day listening to discourses, prayers and other religious meetings.
They will also give up night meals and survive only on water.
“A monk's journey is tough but it is really worth to be a monk. It gives
mental peace, good health and more importantly takes one close to the
almighty. It is altogether a different life,”
Months from July to October are considered to be holy for Jains. During
this time, most Jains do rigorous fasting; spend time in religious meetings
etc. The objective behind conducting this programme is to help the present
generation youth understand the lifestyle of a monk and lead a pious life...
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JAIN MONKS AND NUNS (SADHU AND SADHVI)
When a person renounces the worldly life and all the attachments, and is
initiated into monkshood or nun hood, the man is called Sadhu or Muni and
the woman is called Sadhvi. Their renunciation is total which means they
are completely detached from the social and worldly activities and they do
not take any part in those activities anymore. Instead, they spend their time
in spiritual uplifting their souls and guiding householders such as ourselves
how to uplift our souls.
When they get initiated into the life of Sadhus and Sadhvis, they take five
major vows and act strictly in accordance with those vows. The five great
vows are:
1) Vow of absolute Non-violence.
2) Vow of absolute Truthfulness.
3) Vow of absolute Non-stealing.
4) Vow of absolute Celibacy.
5) Vow of absolute Non-attachment
Some special rules of conduct for sadhus and sadhvis:
The Jain sadhus or sadhvis do not take food or water after the sunset or
before sunrise. They wait 48 minutes after the sun-rise before even drinking
boiled water. Under any circumstance, they do not eat or drink anything
between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
Gochari (Alm): Jain sadhus/sadhvis do not cook their food, do not get it
prepared for them, or do not accept any food which was prepared for them.
They go to different householders that are Jains or vegetarians and receive
a little food from each house. This practice is called Gochari. Just as cows
graze the top part of grass moving from place to place, taking a little at one
place and a little at another, in the same way Jain Monks and Nuns do not
take all the food from one house. They collect it from various houses.The
cooking process involves much violence in the form of fire, vegetable
chopping, water consumption, etc., and sadhus or sadhvis do not want to be
the part of any violence due to their needs.
Vihar: They always walk with bare feet. When they travel from one place
to another, whatever may be the distance they always walk. They do not use
any vehicle like bullock cart, car, boat, ship or plane for travelling. Whether
it is cold weather or scorching sun; whether the road is stony or thorny;
whether it is the burning sand of a desert or a burning road, they do not
wear any foot-wear at any time. They move about on bare foot all their life.
The reason for not wearing shoes is while walking, they can avoid crushing
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the bugs or insects on the ground. While going places, they preach the
religion (Dharma), and provide proper spiritual guidance to people.
Clothing: They always wear un-stitched or minimally stitched white
clothes. A loin cloth which reaches up to the shins is called a Cholapattak.
Another cloth to cover the upper part of the body is called Pangarani
(Uttariya Vastra). A cloth that passes over the left shoulder and covers the
body up to a little above the ankle is called a Kamli. Kamli is a woollen
shawl. They also carry a woollen bed sheet and a woollen mat to sit
on. Sadhus have a muhapati, a square or rectangular piece of cloth of a
prescribed measurement either in their hand or tied on their face covering
the mouth. They also have Ogho or Rajoharan (a broom of woollen threads)
to clean insects around their sitting place or while they are walking. This
practice may vary among different sects of Jains but essential principle
remains the same to limit needs.
They bestow their blessings on all; uttering the words Dharm Labh (may
you attain spiritual prosperity). They bless everyone alike irrespective of
their caste, creed, sex, age, wealth, poverty, high, or low social status. Some
put Vakshep (scented sandal dust) on the heads of people. Monks and nuns
show the path of wholesome life and of a righteous and disciplined life
to every one through the media of discussions, discourses, seminars and
camps to attain spiritual prosperity.
The entire life of sadhus/sadhvis is directed towards the welfare of their
souls. All the activities of their life have only one aim, namely, self-
purification for self- realization. For the attainment of this objective,
besides following laid down guidelines they perform the pratikraman
(the prayashchit or the atonement or self- purification for the cleansing of
the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly) daily, and perform other
austerities.
The Jain sadhus, on account of the mode of their life, are unique among all
the monks. The entire life of Sadhus and Sadhvis is dedicated to spiritual
welfare of their souls; all their objectives, and all their activities are directed
towards elevating their souls to the Paramatma-dasha, the state of the
Supreme Soul.
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AS IN THE FILM “NAYAK”, THE HERO OF THE FILM IS MADE
C.M. FOR ONE DAY SIMILARLY IN HANUMANTHNAGAR
ENTIRE JAIN YOUTH FROM BANGALORE ARE GOING TO
PERFORM THEIR DUTIES AS A JAIN SAINT SO THAT PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE WILL MOTIVATE THEM TOWARDS THE BETTER
QUALITIES OF A JAIN SAINT. IT WILL BE A RAREST OF RARE
EVENT WITH A MOTTO TO LIVE SIMPLE LIFE.
WE WILL BE GOING FOR GOCHARI (COLLECTING FOOD
FROM OTHER’S HOUSE) AT 12 P.M. KINDLY DEPUTE
PHOTOGRAPHER AND REPORTER FOR THE EVENT AND
EXTEND YOUR KIND CO-OPERATION AS USUAL.
WE ARE FORWARDING THIS ARTICLE FOR YOUR REFERENCE
ONLY.
HOPE & TRUST THAT YOU WILL TRY UR BEST TO HIGHLIGHT
THIS IMPORTANT EVENT IN YOUR ESTTEEMED PRINT AND
ELECTRONIC MEDIA SO THAT OTHERS GET BENEFITTED.
YOUR’S FAITHFULLY
SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA
CHAIRMAN – PRESS AND MEDIA
9845501150