W. German Takes Harsh Vows of Faith to Become Rare Foreign Convert to Jainism

Markus Mossner, a 24-year-old West German, has taken a vow not to squash any insects under foot or to swat mosquitoes biting him if he can help it.

In an elaborate ceremony in New Delhi recently, the Freiburg businessman became one of very few foreign converts to Jainism, a faith whose priests are easy to spot.

Such is their reverence for all animal life that they carry brooms to sweep the path before them of insects and wear face masks to avoid inhaling microscopic airborne creatures.

Through a handkerchief covering his mouth, Mossner solemnly intoned his vows and prostrated himself three times in an indoor stadium packed with hundreds of believers.

Travel Only on Foot

Jainism claims about 4 million followers, almost all of them in India.

Its priests say they would like to spread the faith farther afield, but this is difficult because of their vows to travel only on foot.

The priests say that Jainism, which has remained virtually unchanged since it began in India 2,500 years ago, promises reincarnation and salvation through the path set by its first prophets, known as tirthankars .

They say their faith predates organized Hinduism, although the two religions share some of the same deities and beliefs.

Sub-Sects of Faith

Jains are divided into two sects, the Shwetambaras (white clothed) and the Digambaras (sky clad), whose priests go about naked because even clothes are deemed materialistic.

The frail, bespectacled Mossner belongs to the Terapanth, one of three main Shwetambara sub-sects.

“I became interested in Jainism after reading about the life of Mahatma Gandhi. He was influenced by Jain principles of nonviolence,” Mossner said.

During the ceremony, Mossner was given the name Saman Swayan Pragya (the Knowledgeable One) “because he had read so much about Jainism.” He said the name change symbolized the new life he would lead.

Limited Possessions

His vows, which are binding for three months, include abstaining from sex, not eating meat, limiting his possessions to three white tunics and studying English translations of Jain scriptures.

“I have some travelers checks but I won’t use them for this period,” Mossner said. “I had a camera when I came to India but it was stolen.”

At the end of the period Mossner will either return to West Germany as a lay Jain and spread the faith or join the priesthood, a prospect the Knowledgeable One admitted was not too attractive to him.

Jain priests, numbering a few thousand, follow an austere routine.

Subjected to Hardships

They are initiated after having their hair plucked out by the roots and from then on subject themselves to hardships such as meditating under the baking summer sun, with temperatures reaching 119 degrees.

Jains are strict vegetarians, and some priests even strain microscopic creatures from the water they drink.

They are allowed to accept cooked food--and whatever life is destroyed with it--if it is prepared by other people.

Acharya Shri Tulsi, high priest of the Terapanth, had to walk the 370 miles from western Gujarat state to conduct Mossner’s initiation in New Delhi, covering the distance at the rate of 12 miles a day.

More Than 600,000 Miles

Tulsi, 73, estimates that he has walked more than 600,000 miles since he was named high priest at the age of 22. He is believed to have been the youngest high priest in the history of Jainism.

Tulsi said one of the problems of spreading the faith is the discipline, which many people find hard to accept.

“Jainism is very strict and I have expelled some people from the priesthood for lack of discipline,” Tulsi said, but declined to elaborate.

All Jains are expected to commit themselves to nonviolence, honesty and limited worldly possessions, but Tulsi said priests are expected to carry these to the limits of human power.