File:Monks arrived at airport.jpgA party of Sthanakvasi Jain monks arriving at Willingdon airport, Delhi from Gujranwala District,North of Lahore at the Time of Partition.File:Sthanakvasi Jain nuns.jpgMahatma Gandhi meeting Sthanakvasi Jain nuns arrived from Pakistan at the Time of Partition
Sthānakavāsī is a sect of Śvētāmbara Jainism.The beliefs of Sthanakvasi sect is different from Murtipujakas (Idol worshipers).It does not believe in idol worship. It believes that idol worship is not essential in the path of soul purification and attainment of Nirvana/Moksha. Sthānakavāsī accept thirty-two of the Jain Agamas, the Svetambara canon.[1] According to them there is no mention of idol worship and temples in the Agamas. Lord Mahavira never supported Idol worship. Idol worship is adopted by Jainism from other religions.
Saints (ascetic Sthanakvasins, called maharaj saheb's) wear white clothes and cover their mouths with a square white cloth or Muhapatti/Mukhvastrika intended to minimize the risk of inhaling small insects or other airborne life forms, which Sthanakvasins see as a violation of Ahimsa "Non-violence". Saints are allowed to keep seven "Patra" (Utensils/Bowls).They eat food collected from followers' houses and do not save edibles beyond the next meal and water is not kept even for a single night. All eating and drinking has to be done between sunrise and sunset.
Saints do not stay at one place for too long except for the four monsoon months, the Chaturmas. Saints own no possessions except for a few books, a couple sets of clothes and carrying utensils made of a special natural material.
Sadhus are strictly forbidden to carry anything except Rajoharan, a few pairs of clothes, religious books and Patra (Utensils/Bowls). It is not allowed to keep a stick and more than seven utensils like Murtipujakas. Wearing clothes of any color other than white is not allowed.
Notes
^Jains in the World, Religious Values and Ideology in India, John E. Cort, p. 46
