Yati, historically was the general term for a
monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
or
pontiff
A pontiff (from Latin ''pontifex'') was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs."Pontifex". "Oxford English Dictionary", March 2007 The term "pontiff" was la ...
in
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
and
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...
.
Jainism
In the late medieval period, yati came to represent a stationary monk, who lived in one place rather than wandering as required for a Jain monk. The term was more common for the
Śvētāmbara monastics, but was also used by the
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being '' Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing ...
s. The term has also been occasionally for ascetics from other traditions.
Some scholars married and were termed ''sansari yati'' or
mahātmā
Mahatma (English pronunciation: , sa, महात्मा, translit=mahātmā) is an honorific used in India.
The term is commonly used for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is often referred to simply as "Mahatma Gandhi". Albeit less frequent ...
s.
Some ruling dynasties in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...
had a close relationship with yatis.
Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak mentions that yatis were invited to participate in the discussion on religions.
The stationary yatis often managed institutions and properties. Some of their residences are termed ''jatiji'' in their memory.
With the re-establishment of orders of wandering (') monks since late 19th and early 20th century, the number of yatis have declined significantly.
Shripujya
The heads of the institutions of Śhwētāmbara yatis were often termed shripujya, similar to Digambara institutions headed by the
Bhattarakas. Only a celibate yati could become a shripujya. They have now been replaced by
acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a ...
s who head orders of wandering monks.
Prominent Jain yatis
*
Yativṛṣabha
Yativṛṣabha (Yativrishabha), also known as Jadivasaha, was a mathematician and Jain monk. He is believed to have lived during the 6th century, probably during 500–570. He studied under Arya Manksu and Nagahastin. He lived and worked betwe ...
, 500-570
*
Rajendrasuri
Acharya Rajendrasuri was a Svetambara Jain monk and reformer of monk traditions of the 19th century. He wrote many books on Jainism including ''Abhidhānarājaindrakōśa'', a dictionary of Prakrit defining 60,000 terms used in Jain works.
Ea ...
who was initiated as a yati and later helped transform the Śvetambara Mūrtipūjaka tradition in 1880.
* Yati Lavaji, the founder of the
Sthānakavāsī sect about 1653
* Yati Yatanlal, (1894-1967) freedom fighter. There is an award named after him.
महासमुंद में बनने लगा जयपुर कृत्रिम हाथ,, Matrix News, Aug 05, 2013, मुख्य अतिथि श्री मालू ने कहा के यति यतनलाल समाज सेवी होने के साथ साथ एक स'चे देशभक्त थे. बचपन से समाज सेवा, देश सेवा में रूचि रखने वाले यति जी ने १७ जुलाई १९७६ में श्री विवेकवर्धन सेवा आश्रम की स्थापना कर आश्रम परिसर में सर्व सुविधायुक्त निशुल्क अस्पताल का शुभारंभ किया
/ref>
See also
* Yativṛṣabha
Yativṛṣabha (Yativrishabha), also known as Jadivasaha, was a mathematician and Jain monk. He is believed to have lived during the 6th century, probably during 500–570. He studied under Arya Manksu and Nagahastin. He lived and worked betwe ...
* Bhattaraka
* Mahātmā#Jain Mahatmas in Dabestān-e Mazāheb
References
{{Jainism Topics
Asceticism
Jain monasticism
Titles and occupations in Hinduism