The naked monks

Why would someone live publicly nude for their faith? In parts of India, Jain monks belonging to the Digambara sect permanently renounce all possessions, including clothes. These monks walk naked for hundreds of miles across India as part of their spiritual journey.

Journalist Rajesh Joshi explores this unique spiritual practice, meeting fully fledged monks and disciples on the path to total nudity. While walking with them across the countryside, Rajesh learns about the danger these monks face, and he speaks to villagers to find out what they think of these naked monks whose numbers have unexpectedly grown in recent years. We also speak to female Jain followers to understand how they feel about the nudity they witness.

Presenter: Rajesh Joshi
Producer: Emily Uchida Finch
Executive producer: Sandra Kanthal
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

Image: Jain monk Pranamya Sagar Ji (Credit: Arham Dhyan Yog)