Crusader for ahimsa
SUDHAKSHINA RANGASWAMI
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Ascetic The goal of Vivarjan Sagar Muni is to propagate non-violence.
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Renounciation: Vivarjan Sagar Muni
People line up after the daily Satsangh to meet a young monk, who is staying at the Jain temple, in their locality and he patiently asks each one the same question, “Can you become a vegetarian?” “Yes,” says the first, but he
is not convinced. “For how long?” he persists. While he replies a month to begin with, the next one promises she will try for three months. Another with a more reformist zeal says, “I will be a vegan all my life.”
A smile lights up his face for this is the kind of victory he wants to win, which distinguishes him as a “Jina”— one who has won over his temptations. He does not preach any abstruse dogma but has been winning over those who flock to him with his down-to-earth manner, conversation in colloquial Tamil and by being an example of what he teaches. This itinerant monk, Acharya 108 Vivarjan Sagar Muni, has made Chennai his Chaturmasa retreat this year.
Observing chaturmasa
Chaturmasa in the religious calendar is the period corresponding to the monsoon months (mid-July to mid-November) when ascetics stay in one place long enough for their followers to engage with them intensively. Vivarjan Sagar Muni of the Digambara Jain tradition is observing Chaturmasa (from July 17) at the Adibhagavan Digambara Jain temple in Adambakkam.
Jainism has a long history in Tamil Nadu going back to the Sangam Age and the contribution of Jain scholars to Tamil literature is well known. It is of great antiquity, the first Tirthankara being Rishabhadeva and the last, the 24th Tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira (5th century B.C.), was contemporaneous with the Buddha.
Mahavira’s teachings, which are predominantly ethical, form the core precept and practice of this religion. There are two sects, the Svetambara, distinguished by white attire who form the majority, and the Digambara (space clad) monks who do not wear any raiment as a mark of their absolute renunciation. The Digambara sect, understandably, does not have as much following as its stringent practices are a deterrent. By this reckoning Vivarjan Sagar Muni’s (DOB July 1, 1984) rise to the position of Acharya has been meteoric. Hailing from Bhind in Madhya Pradesh he was named Jitendra Kumar Jain by his parents. He renounced his family and was initiated as a Brahmachari at the age of 17, and became a Muni at Sravanabelagola in 2006.
A Digambara Jain Muni adopts five great vows (Pancha mahavratas) for life at the time of his initiation: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-possession). There is no compromise in the adherence to these vows and hence the respect he commands from one and all.
As Ahimsa is the credo of Jainism (Ahimsa paramo dharma), Vivarjan Sagar Muni believes that everything else will follow if he is able to transform those who come to him to adopt non-violence as a value to cherish and apply it in all situations in life. And practice of vegetarianism is something even the unlettered can relate to as a tenet of Jainism, he reasons. His fervour to help people at the grassroots-level has made him master Tamil to communicate with them and this has earned him the title “Samana Tamil Kesari.”
Conference on vegetarianism, competitions for school children to promote Ahimsa, daily Satsanghs and special pujas are some of the activities that are being planned for the Chaturmasa. (His website: www.vivarjansagar.com). For details, ring 9884059990 ( Mr. G. Appandarajan).
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