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For more than 5000 years, the practice and approach to accept
food by a Digambar monk has remained same without much change.
There are strong evidences which conclusively say that
Mahaveera (24th Tithankara) accepted food in a style which is
much close to the current practice followed by Digambar monks.
Even Buddha during the initial course of his spiritual journey
accepted food in very much the similar way as that of a
Digambar monk.
The
digamber muni takes aahara ( food intake ) once once in a day
& that too in standing posture in their hand without ant
utensils.. Jain muni's are not allowed to enjoy the taste of
offered food. A digamber monk concentrates least on the taste
of food while accepting it and would not even utter a word
while taking the food.
The
Aahar (food intake) of Digambar Muni is one of the most
complex process that is being followed in Jainism.
Here is an attempt to depict the rituals that are followed
while feeding a Digamabar Muni:.
**** Gesture to indicate that a monk is on his way to take
food:
When a
Digambar Muni walks on the street to take food, He needs to
show the following gesture
"He
goes out with right hand folded at the elbow, with fingers
touching the tip of his right shoulder"
This gesture from the Muni indicates that the householder
that Muni is on his way to take food. If any shravak is
interested, then they can call him to have food by chaunting
mantras as stated below
Five Steps:
In
Digambar tradition there are five steps (Navadha Bakthi)
that need to be followed while offering food to a monk.
This
process is called as Aahar Dhan.
1. When the Monk passes near the house of Shravak, Shravak
invites him by saying, "(I bow) Swami Namostu, (Please come)
Atra, Atra, (Please wait) Tisth, Tisth, Tisth"
2. If the monk stops, then the lay person circles the monk
three times with full devotion.
3. The monk is requested to come inside the house and take a
seat on a wooden plank.
4. The devotees wash the feet of Monk with water and put
several drops of water on their own head.
5. The devotees perform puja and bow to the monk.
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