Jain traders turn monks for a day

1000 Jain CEOs, businessmen and professionals in the city experienced the life of a monk for a day in Bolaram on Sunday. They renounced their daily comforts and stayed away from their homes under the guidance of Guru Gautam Muniji M S and Vaibhav Muni M S. The people shunned all modern luxuries and comforts like mobile phones, electricity and spent their day doing prayers, keeping silence and spirituality. They also went from door to door begging for food which they collected in a pot named Patras. The entire procession was done as part of a spiritual awakening programme as well as to earn a spot in the Limca Book of Records.

The function began at 7am at Sri Shivkushal Garden, Bolaram and went on till 10pm. Lalit Surana, Joint Secretary, said, “ The life of a monk is not easy. They were divested of all their metals, money and had denounced all worldly possessions. They went for 'Bhiksha' (alms), two times in a day, once at lunch time other in the evening. These 2000 financially well off Jains experienced what it takes to beg for food. They went around Jain homes in and around Bolaram seeking Bhiksha.”

The day began with a prarthana(morning prayer) and a peace rally and concluded with a pratikarman(asking for forgiveness to every living being in this world). All the participants took an oath to lead the life of a monk for 13 hours. White robes called cholpata & dupatti were worn by all the individuals. A mask called muhapati was worn on the mouth.They also adopted the role of a bhikshu. During this day, bhikshus learnt to break the barriers of worldly attachments and desires so as to assist in the liberation of the soul because every living being on the earth suffers from various obstacles and pain owing to his wrong doings in the past. In order to safeguard their future, bhikshus are taught not to cause harm to any living being. Samayika, a type of meditation to help gain internal control of thoughts is taught to them as they influence behavior actions and goals.

Brahmacharya is also an important lesson that is divulged to the bhiskshus. It is ideal to gain control over the senses because a Brahmacharya prohibits all sexual activity. The collected food is called gochari and it was consumed at the prayer hall, not a small piece of grain was wasted or thrown to safeguard interests of those who are in need of food. Bhikshus are strictly prohibited from wearing any footwear even at extreme climatic conditions to respect all those animals whose skin is mercilessly torn out and used. Finally they paid their tribute to the Lord and took blessings from their gurus and left the prayer hall.