Routledge Escaping the World: Women Renouncers among Jains

Explore a deep historical and ethnographic study of Jainism with Escaping the World: Women Renouncers among Jains. Published by Routledge, this book addresses a long-standing question in Jain studies regarding the high number of female renouncers, known as sadhvis, documented in ancient and medieval texts. Through extensive fieldwork in Delhi and Jaipur, the author provides fresh insights into the lives of these women. The research moves beyond traditional academic gaps to present a perspective rooted in the lived experiences of the sadhvis themselves. By using ethnographic data, the text examines how these women view their path to asceticism. This volume provides a unique look at how renouncers define their own lives. Rather than viewing their path through a lens of deprivation, the women in this study associate asceticism with autonomy, freedom, joy, and spiritual peace. The book contrasts this with the grihastha (household) life, which many participants associate with a loss of independence. This work is an essential resource for those interested in South Asian history, culture, and the sociological aspects of religious practice.