Jain customs
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Ghee bolo
The practice of bidding or ghee bolo started 450 years ago [i.e. sometime between A.D. 1550 and 1600] to catalyse community charity . “At that time, devotees didn't contribute even a penny to the temple box. So something had to be done to raise funds to build more Jain temples and spread the religion,“ explained Vimal Sagar Maharajsaheb, a Jain monk. “That was when the idea of ghee bolo emerged. Over the years it has become a regular ritual.“
Manish Gala, president of the Kutchi Visha Oswal Sangh, said bigticket bidding is usually associated with those who have a huge following. “Apart from the sum garnered for the community's Jivdaya (targeted grant to im prove quality of life), what was unique was that the monk had left a note stating his family should be given the right to carry his body and place it in the palanquin in the lotus position (to symbolize attaining of moksha),“ said Gala.
Jayantsen Surishwarji Maharajsaheb/ 2017
In a quiet hamlet of Bhandavpur in Rajasthan, Jayantsen Surishwarji Maharajsaheb, spiritual mentor to lakhs of Jains, passed away on Monday . The next morning, over 50,000 Jains thronged the granite district of Jalore.
Many were there for a unique community ritual: to bid for the right to perform the last rites of the 81-year-old senior Jain monk. A leading business family from Ahmedabad bid a whopping Rs 33.5 crore to light the pyre, and various other aspects of the funeral rites saw a record Rs 57 crore raised.
There were bidders for giving him the last bath, applying a paste of sandalwood, and for covering the body with a woolen shawl. Each bid crores of rupees to do the honours. According to Babulal Jain-Ujwal, a Kandivli resident who maps yearly data of Jain monks, Jayantsen Surishwarji Maharajsaheb had initiated close to 200 people into diksha and was responsible for the formation of 250 Jain temples. He said Jayantsen Surishwarji Maharajsaheb had a huge following and the family from Gujarat that bid for the rights to light the pyre was close to him.
“We wanted to be a part of his final journey . The bids can't be revealed as nothing is a lot for Maharajsahebji,“ said one of the groups that bid to be one of the pallbearers.
Face masks
April 11, 2020: The Times of India
Followers of the four main Jain traditions have their own mask ritual: Digambars are sky-clad monks and as total renunciates, they own nothing. Sthanakvasis hold the muhapatti in their hands and use it to cover their mouth while speaking. I am from the terapanthi tradition and we apply varnish on top of the square piece of white cloth so that it lasts longer, as the plain (unvarnished) cloth becomes dirty sooner. The idea is to not hurt subtle beings, small insects, which may enter the mouth without us noticing. When we speak, cough or sneeze, droplets from our saliva or mucous should not come in contact with others. Also, in winter, when warm, condensed air exits the mouth, the muhapatti renders it milder and prevents it from reaching those around us. Jain monks have been wearing a face-covering cloth for over 1,500 years but murti pujaks have been using them from an even earlier time. The muhapatti was attached to the ear so it could be used at all times. Among Jains, face-covering is associated with a deeper understanding of ahimsa, to not hurt others, not even subtlest of beings. Wearing a face mask is a constant reminder to the muni that he is a muni. Face-covering also reminds us to be careful with the words we choose to speak. According to Jain shastras, our words should not hurt others. Vaak shuddhi, purity of speech, is an important aspect of Jainism.
Besides wearing the face mask, we also use something called rajoharan. Digambar monks call it pichhi; sometimes it is made with fallen peacock feathers attached to a stick or handle. It is an inseparable part of ahimsa-living. In the older days, when there was no electricity, and you couldn’t see anything at night, the rule was to first use rajoharan – often made of soft wool – to sweep the ground on which you were going to place your foot. It was done to protect small beings from getting crushed under your feet. Before sitting, you should sweep the floor with rajoharan and then place your asana and sit. Householders, who practise Jain sadhanas, use it too; mostly, they have a smaller version. Rajoharan is also used to sweep the floor during change of asanas to make sure that no violence is caused towards small beings like ants that might have come under the asana.
Today, the destruction we are witnessing because of coronavirus is the result of long years of unmindful consumption by humans that involves violence. Jiva hatya, killing of animals for food, has destroyed our environment and negatively impacted our health and now, it is threatening our existence. Mahavira advocated vegetarianism and said that we must avoid eating after sundown. He was ahead of his time. Today, medical experts advise us that we should have an early dinner. Ahimsa-living is the need of the hour. Jain dharma is about practice of karuna, compassion; kshama, forgiveness; maitree, friendliness; and daya, forgiveness, towards all living beings. (The writer is founderacharya, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti)
