Editing Mahatma (section)

==In Jainism==
{{Further|Yati}}
[[File:MewarRamayanaP22MahatmaHirananda.jpg|thumb|Mewad Ramayana manuscript: the colophon in red: state text was written by the Mahatma Hirananda, was commissioned by Acarya Jasvant for the library of Maharana Jagat Singh I of Mewar. Finished on Friday 25 November 1650.]]
Among the [[Jain]]s the term  Mahatma is used for the class for scholars who are householders.

===Mahatma Hirananda of Mewar===
The [[Colophon (publishing)|colophon]] of the Mewar Ramayana, described as "one of the most beautiful manuscripts in the world",<ref>{{cite web| url = http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/indiaatlse/2014/06/13/mewar-ramayana/| title = The Mewar Ramayana at the British Library: How the complete digital version came to be| date = 13 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In pictures: Stunning Ramayana manuscript goes digital, BBC, 21 March 2014|work=BBC News|date=21 March 2014|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26670449}}</ref> states that the text, commissioned by Acharya Jasvant for the library of Maharana Jagat Singh I of [[Mewar]], was written by one Mahatma Hirananda and finished on Friday 25 November 1650.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ramayana/accessible/pages21and22.html#content| title = Ramayana – Pages 21 and 22 (British Library Add MS 15296-15297 and IO San 3621)}}</ref> Being a Jain scribe, Mahatma Hirananda incorporated traditional Jain scribal elements into the manuscript.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ramayana/accessible/pages3and4.html#content| title = Ramayana – Pages 3 and 4}}</ref>

===Jain Mahatmas in ''Dabestan-e Mazaheb''===
The ''[[Dabestan-e Mazaheb]],'' written around 1655 CE, is a text that describes various religions and philosophies the author encountered.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cxJgAAAAMAAJ&dq=THE+DABIST%C3%81N%2C+OR+SCHOOL+OF+MANNERS&pg=PA1| title = The Dabistán: Or, School of Manners: The Religious Beliefs, Observances, Philosophic Opinions and Social Customs of the Nations of the East, Fani Muhsin, Translated by David Shea, Anthony Troyer, Publisher, M. Walter Dunne, 1901 p. 275-276| year = 1901}}</ref> Its Section 11 is dedicated to Jainism. It states: "Similar to the dervishes of both classes (Monk and [[Yati|Jatis]]) is a third sect, called Mahá-átma; group separated from the Oswal Jains, have the dress and appearance of Jatis; however, do not pluck their hair with tweezers, but cut it. They live the social life and spread the teaching of Mahavir and other Jain [[Tirthankara|Tirthankars]] in the society. They accumulate money, cook their meals in their houses, drink cold water, and take to them a wife."<ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cxJgAAAAMAAJ&dq=THE+DABIST%C3%81N%2C+OR+SCHOOL+OF+MANNERS&pg=PA1| title = The Dabistán: Or, School of Manners: The Religious Beliefs, Observances, Philosophic Opinions and Social Customs of the Nations of the East, Fani Muhsin, Translated by David Shea, Anthony Troyer, Publisher, M. Walter Dunne, 1901 p. 275| year = 1901}}</ref> The term Mahatma was thus used for priests/scholars who were not celibate.