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The muhapatti (variously spelled mahapatti, muhpatti or mahpatti) is a square of white cloth worn across the face and tied behind the ears or held, by Sthanakvasi
The muhapatti (variously spelled mahapatti, muhpatti or mahpatti) is a square of white cloth worn across the face and tied behind the ears or held, by Sthanakvasi ÅšvetÄmbara
The ÅšvetÄmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''ÅšvetÄmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...
or ÅšvÄ“tÄmbara Terapanthi Jains. Sometimes a card is used instead of a cloth.
The purpose is to prevent saliva from coming into contact with sacred books, images or other items. It is often purported to be worn to reduce the chance of inhaling (and thus killing) small insects and other airborne life. Some Jains
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and ...
believe the destruction of even these tiny life forms is a violation of ahimsa
(, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
(also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...
, the principle of non-violence. Whilst this may be one benefit of the use of muhapatti, it is not the initial reason for use. It is one of the accessories of sadhu
''Sadhu'' (, IAST: ' (male), ''sÄdhvÄ«'' or ''sÄdhvÄ«ne'' (female), also spelled ''saddhu'') is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively ...
in the practise of Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
. It is one of many "health-giving concepts" woven into the Jain belief system. Murtipujaka
MÅ«rtipÅ«jaka (lit. "image-worshipper"), also known as DerÄvÄsÄ« ("temple-dweller") or Mandir MÄrgÄ« ("follower of the temple path"), is the largest sect of ÅšvÄ“tÄmbara, ÅšvetÄmbara Jainism. MÅ«rtipÅ«jaka Jains differ from both ÅšvetÄmba ...
monks and nuns also use the muhapatti when delivering a religious discourse.
The muhapatti is also viewed as a symbol of samyama, or "control of speech". It is described as a religious accessory with a long history, used by Indrabhuti Gautama
Gautama Swami, born as Indrabhuti Gautama was the first ''Ganadhara'' (chief disciple) of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara of present half cycle of time. He is also referred to as Guru Gautama, Gautama Ganadhara, and Ganadhara Gauta ...
, a ganadhara
In Jainism, the term Ganadhara is used to refer the chief disciple of a ''Tirthankara''. In '' samavasarana'', the ''TÄ«rthankara'' sat on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around, the ''TÄ«rthankara'' sits the ''Gana ...
, according to the canonical text Vipâka sûtra, adhyayana 1.
References
* Jain monasticism {{Jainism-stub