14 - Pañcamāśramavidhi: Rite for Becoming a Naked Ascetic

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that many ascetic sects of ancient India prescribed that their members go naked. Jaina and Ājīvaka sects are possibly the two most important and widespread of such sects. Although both the Buddhist and Brahmanical traditions generally proscribe nudity among ascetics, it is evident that nudity was not uncommon among Brahmanical renoucers and that it was accepted as legitimate by at least some authorities. Āpastamba, for example, says: “Some declare that he shall go naked” (ĀpDh 2.21.12). The Brahmanical rite of renunciation indicates that this was an old and established practice. As the concluding act of that rite the new renouncer takes off all his clothes and, naked, walks toward the north or the northeast. He is, however, recalled by the teacher, who invites him to wear his clothes and to take the insignia of a renouncer, such as staff, begging-bowl and water-pot. In all likelihood the rite of disrobing is a ritual remnant of an earlier custom of total nudity on the part of a renouncer.

With the evolution of Brāhmanical renunciation, renouncers were classified into four types: Kuṭīcaka, Bahūdaka, Haṃsa and Paramahaṃsa. It is assumed that as one moves up this hierarchy one becomes progressively more free from rules and abandons practices obligatory at the lower levels. Thus the gradual abandonment of a renouncer's insignia becomes the hallmark of the higher types of renouncers, especially of Paramahaṃsas.