is there a history of mendicants being eunuchs?
Short answer: No. There isn’t a recognized history in Jainism of mendicants (monks) being eunuchs.
What Jain texts and tradition say in simple terms:
- Jain ascetics renounce worldly life and practice celibacy (brahmacharya) as part of renunciation, but there is no tradition of eunuch mendicants. The rules differ between Digambara and Śvetāmbara communities, especially regarding clothes and ordination, not about eunuch status. You can read general notes on Digambara vs Śvetāmbara distinctions here and here.
- In Digambara practice, male ascetics renounce clothes (sky-clad) as a sign of detachment, while female renunciants follow their own path; neither involves eunuch status. For context on monastic differences and renunciation, see these pages.
If you want, I can point you to more Jain-focused explanations about monastic vows and celibacy in the Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions.