Religious Pilgrimage (Hinduism)
The narrator explicates, “A day seldom passes when I do not see white-robed pilgrims walking on the riverbanks far below me. Many are like myself, quite elderly person who have completed the first stages of life prescribed by our Hindu scriptures - the infant, the student, the householder - and how have now entered the stage of the vanaprasthi to seek personal enlightenment.” The white-robes which the pilgrims don are illustrative of the religious purity that they are pursuing in the course of their excursions. The apportionment of the stages renders the pilgrimage a long life passage that would oblige patience and downright dedication. A pilgrim is expected to trail the phases meticulously in accordance with the ideals of Hinduism. Manifestly, being enlightened is the paramount end of the pilgrimage.
Jain Faith Ideology
The Jain monks’ viewpoint is dissimilar from the Hindu ideology. The Jain monk expounds, “ A Jain monk seeks to free himself of the fetters of the worldly desire through the vows of poverty, celibacy, and nonviolence.” The monks are expected to kowtow to the vows delineated above for them to grasp the religious aims. Besides, the monks are undeniably sensitive with all forms of life; the Jain monk explicates, “I must always look down while walking for feat that I may step on an ant. Even plucking bananas becomes an act fraught with danger. Who knows what small creatures live in the leaves or trunk of a banana trees?” A Jain monk has an obligation to conserve life in all deeds including unassuming actions such as eating and walking. A monk who infringes upon the creed of ‘nonviolence’ would have undermined the inclusive creed of the sect. The Jain monk declares the discrepancy between Hinduism and the Jain sect: You Hindus. Always disguising your greed with your many-head gods any your many-headed arguments.” The statement features the manifold ideologies which administer the Hindu religion, for each of the Hindu gods personifies a distinct dogma.
