Presenter
Jain Abhishek - School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United StatesPanel
123 – Child ascetics in historical and contemporary South Asian Jain and Buddhist communitiesAbstract
The Ācāraṇgasūtra, the Mūlācāra by Vaṭṭakera, the Anagāradharmāmṛta by Paṇḍita Āśādhara, and many other texts explain how and when to ordain a seeker into Jain monastic practices. Child monasticism is not uncommon in the Jain storytelling tradition. In recent years, child monasticism has significantly increased within the Jain tradition. One son or one daughter is ordained into monastic practices if parents have more than one child. The paper will discuss how the Jain scriptures are agreeable to the child’s monastic practices. What are the inspirations for the child to take the vow of Jain mendicants in the present day? Who is eligible to take the vow of monastic practice? Some case studies, scriptural evidence, and storytelling from both Digambara and Śvetāmbara sects will be investigated to examine the contemporary practice of child monasticism.
