What is Renunciation

Renunciation means to become completely detached from all sinful actions caused by all kinds of delusions. Such a person does not entertain sinful thoughts, does not utter sinful words and does not commit any sinful action by means of his body, mind and soul. Not only he completely refrains from all kinds of sin but also does not be an abettor of sin that might be committed by others. If anyone commits a sinful action, he does not countenance it nor does he acquiesce in it.

When a woman or man renounces wordly life and all wordly attachments and is initiated into Samyagdharma or the way of discipline and austerity, the man is called Sadhu or ascetic or Sramana or Muni and the woman is called Sadhvi or Sramani or Arya.

Those who get initiated into the life of discipline and austerity and become Sadhus and Sadhvis must take a vow to act strictly in accordance with the five great austerities.

Five special kinds of vows – Mahavrata:
1) Pranatipataviramana Mahavrata – Non-violence
2) Mrsavadaviramana Mahavrata – Truthfulness
3) Adattadanaviramana Mahavrata – Non-stealing
4) Maithunaviramana Mahavrata – Celibacy
5) Parigrahaviramana Mahavrata – Non-attachment / Non-possession