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Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the ''Digambara'' or "sky-clad" Jains whose ascetic practitioners go nude. Śvetāmbaras do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity. The Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions have had historical differences ranging from their dress code, their temples and iconography, attitude towards Jain nuns, their legends and the texts they consider as important. Śvetāmbara Jain communities are currently found mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan and coastal regions of Maharashtra. According to Jeffery D. Long, a scholar of Hindu and Jain studies, about four-fifths of all Jains in India are Śvetāmbaras. History and lineage Śvetāmbaras consider themselves to be the original followers of Maha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes. Nakedness was the ideal practice of lord Mahavira and his immediate followers. Mahavira emphasized the importance of nakedness for monks. It symbolizes complete detachment and is an ideal form of conduct. Mahavira believed that renouncing clothes made the body immune to external influences like heat and cold, increasing resilience. Without clothes, a monk would avoid the distractions of acquiring, maintaining, and washing garments, allowing him to focus on spiritual growth and self-discipline. Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions have had historical differences ranging from their dress code, their temples and iconography, attitude towards female monastics, their legends, and the texts the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhadrabāhu
Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was, according to both the Śvetāmbara and ''Digambara'' sects of Jainism, the last '' Shruta Kevalin'' (all knowing by hearsay, that is indirectly) in Jainism. According to the Digambara tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. According to the ''Digambara'' sect of Jainism, there were five ''Shruta Kevalins'' in Jainism – Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu. According to the Śvetāmbara tradition, he was the author of the holy Kalpa Sūtra, which describes the life of Mahavira and other Tirthankaras. It also lists down a Sthaviravali (a succession list of the names of the head of the Jain monastic order according to Śvetāmbaras, starting with Mahavira's Ganadhara (disciple) Sudharmaswami). Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a Sthavirkalpi monk (as described in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the Kalpa Sūtra, and the Sthananga Sut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ratnaprabhasuri
Ratnaprabhasuri was a Śvetāmbara Jain ascetic and the 6th successor in the lineage of the monastic heads of the ''Chaturvidha Sangha's'' () Upkeśa Gaccha. He succeeded Swayamprabhasuri and is believed to have existed in 6th–5th century BC. He is most well-known as the founder of the Oswal, ''Oswāl'' clan of Śvetāmbara, Śvetāmbara Jains. Birth and initiation As per scriptures of the Śvetāmbara sect, he is believed to have been born in the 5th century BC in a royal family belonging to the Vidyadhara, ''Vidyādhara'' clan as ''Prince Ratnachuda''. Later on, he became a Vidyadhara, ''Vidyādhara'' king. As a member of the Vidyadhara, ''Vidyādhara'' clan, he is said to have possessed several ''vidyās'' (magical powers). Śvetāmbara scriptures have vivid descriptions of Vidyadhara, ''Vidyādhara'' kingdoms and legends about the magical powers possessed by the members of this clan. According to legends, Swayamprabhasuri was once preaching lay followers about renouncin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vimalsuri
Vimalsuri was a Jain monasticism, Jain monk of the Śvetāmbara, Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka sect. He is best known for his composition ''"Paumachariyam"'', the earliest known Jainism, Jain version of the Ramayana and the oldest work of literature written in Maharashtri Prakrit. Although scholars' opinion and traditional beliefs differ on his timeline, the common belief is that he lived between the 1st and the 3rd century AD. Biography Very little is known about him, given his timeline. However, his work ''"Paumachariyam"'' describes a short Pattavali mentioning him. It mentions Acharya Vijayasuri as his preceptor and initiator, while Acharya Rahu as his preceptor's (Acharya Vijayasuri) preceptor. According to the Parishishtaparvan, composed by Hemachandra, and the original text of ''"Paumachariyam"'', it is clear that Vimalsuri belonged to the ''Nailakulavamś.'' Hermann Jacobi, Dr. Hermann Jacobi finds that until 12th century AD, it was known as ''Nailakulavamś'' or ''Nāgil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Upkeśa Gaccha
Upkeśa Gaccha is the oldest ''gaccha'' (monastic order) of Śvetāmbara Jainism. It is one of the 84 ''gacchas'' of the Śvetāmbara sect that were once in existence. Unlike most other ''gacchas'' that follow Mahavira's lineage and begin with his disciple Sudharmaswami, it follows the lineage of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha and is said to have begun with his prime disciple ''Ganadhara Shubhadatta''. It went extinct in about 1930 CE. History According to Śvetāmbara scriptures, lineage-wise, Upkeśa Gaccha is the oldest of all the 84 ''gacchas'' to ever exist. It is said to be of Parshvanatha's lineage. Historically, Parshvanatha's ''śāsana-kāl'' () was 250 years, which is the smallest difference between two Tirthankaras in this Avasarpiṇī. As a result, ascetics of Parshvanatha's unbroken lineage were around when Mahavira was born. As per Kalpa Sūtra, an important canonical scripture of the Śvetāmbaras, Mahavira's parents were Śrāvakas (lay-followers) o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four , supreme preachers of ''dharma''. The first in the current time cycle is Rishabhadeva, who tradition holds lived millions of years ago; the 23rd is Parshvanatha, traditionally dated to the 9th century Common Era, BCE; and the 24th is Mahāvīra, Mahavira, who lived . Jainism is considered an eternal ''dharma'' with the guiding every time cycle of the Jain cosmology, cosmology. Central to understanding Jain philosophy is the concept of ''bhedavijñāna'', or the clear distinction in the nature of the soul and non-soul entities. This principle underscores the innate purity and potential for liberation within every Jīva (Jainism), soul, distinct from the physical and menta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sivabhuti
Sivabhuti was a Jain monk of the 1st century CE who is regarded as the founder of the Digambara tradition in 82 AD, according to the 5th-century Śvetāmbara text ''Avashyak Bhashya'', authored by Jinabhadra. Very little is known about him, apart from a single story mentioned in this ancient Śvetāmbara work. Among several modern works on Jainism, '' The Jains'', by Paul Dundas, also refers to Sivabhuti and recounts the story. Background Śvetāmbara texts accuse Sivabhuti of initiating the Digambara tradition through "eight concealments", which involved the rejection of Jain scriptures upheld and preserved by the Śvetāmbaras. These texts openly and directly charge him with a serious misinterpretation of the scriptures and traditional Jain doctrines, particularly concerning the wearing of clothes and ''strī nirvāṇa'' (the attainment of liberation by women). Scholarly views Although some scholars differ on the interpretation of the term ''Botika'', the majority agree ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pattavali
A Pattavali (From Sanskrit patta: seat, avali: chain), Sthaviravali or Theravali, is a record of a spiritual lineage of heads of monastic orders. They are thus spiritual genealogies. It is generally presumed that two successive names are teacher and pupil. The term is applicable for all Indian religions, but is generally used for Jain monastic orders. There are several famous pattavalis which are often used to establish historical chronologies: *Sarasvatigachchha Pattavali: Pattavali of the Balatkara Gana of Mula Sangh *Tapagaccha Pattavali: Pattavali of Tapa Gachchha *Upkeśa Gaccha Pattavali: Pattavali of the Upkeśa Gaccha (now extinct), the oldest of all ''pattavalis'' of the Jain ''sangha''. *Kharataragachha Pattavali: Pattavali of Kharatara Gachchha Glasenapp notes that although the chronological list mentioned in pattavali are valuable, it is not reliable. Description ''Pattavali'' states the lineage of Jain monks. The Jain Monastic Lineages According to 600 AD ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swayamprabhasuri
Swayamprabhasuri or Svayamprabhasuri was a Śvetāmbara Jain ascetic and the 5th successor in the lineage of the monastic heads of the ''Chaturvidha Sangha's'' () Upkeśa Gaccha. He succeeded Keśiśramanācharya and is believed to have existed in 6th–5th century BC. He is known for establishing the '' Śrīmali'' and '' Porvāl'' clans. Birth and initiation Although not much is known about him, some non-canonical scriptures such as Ratnaprabhasuri's ''"Upkeśa Gaccha Caritra"'' () describe his ascetic life in detail and life before initiation into the ''Jain Sangha'' succinctly. As per scriptures of the Śvetāmbara sect, he is believed to have been born in the 6th century BC in a family belonging to the ''Vidyādhara'' clan. He is believed to have been initiated by Keśiśramanācharya, the 4th ''pattadhār'' () in the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha's lineage. Therefore, unlike most Jain ascetics today who trace their lineage to the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, Swayam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sthulabhadra
Sthulabhadra (297-198 BCE) was a Jain monk who lived during the 3rd or 4th century BC. He was a disciple of Bhadrabahu and Sambhutavijaya. His father was Sakatala, a minister in Nanda kingdom before the arrival of Chandragupta Maurya. When his brother became the chief minister of the kingdom, Sthulabhadra became a Jain monk and succeeded Bhadrabahu in the Pattavali as per the writings of the Kalpa Sūtra. He is mentioned in the 12th-century Jain text ''Parisistaparvan'' (appendix to the ''Trisasti-shalakapurusa-caritra'') by Hemachandra. Life Sthulabhadra was a son of the Dhana Nanda's minister Sakatala and brother of Shrikaya. He is traditionally dated in 297 to 198 BCE. He loved and lived with a royal dancer in Dhana Nanda's court named Rupkosa. He denied ministry after the death of his father and became a Jain monk. His brother became the chief minister in Nanda empire later. He became a disciple of Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BCE) and Bhadrabahu (322-243 BCE). He led a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Achal Gaccha
Achal Gaccha, also known as the ''Vidhipakṣa'' or ''Anchal Gaccha'' () is one of the four existing Gacchas and one of the 84 ''gacchas'' of the Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka sect of Jainism. It was founded by Acharya Aryarakshitsuri in 1079 CE in response to the laxity that had crept into monasticism. Except for some minors differences, the rules and rituals of Achal Gaccha are similar to all the other existing ''gacchas'' of the Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka sect. Currently, Acharya Kalāprabhasāgarsuri is the ''gacchadhipati'' of Achal Gaccha who was declared as Gunodayasāgarsuri's successor after his demise in 2020. Acharya Kalāprabhasāgarsuri was formally coronated as the ''gacchadhipati'' of Achal Gaccha in 2022 in Mulund. History and origin Akin to the remaining three, Achal Gaccha traces its roots to the then ''Vada Gachha'' which was the unbroken lineage of monks, starting with one of Mahavira's 11 Ganadharas, Sudharmaswami. Initially, the name of Achal Gaccha was ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gaccha
Gaccha, alternatively spelled as Gachchha, is a monastic order, along with lay followers, of the idol worshipping Murtipujaka Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism. Etymology ''Gaccha'' literally means "who travel together". History According to Jain tradition, in the first century, Vajrasensuri established four ''Kulas'', subdivisions within the Swetambara Murtipujaka Jain community, to divide the community during time of drought to disperse them. They were: Chandra, Nirvriti, Vidyadhar and Nagendra. During 1000 to 1300 CE, the Gaccha replaced these ''Kula'' as basic divisions of community. Although some 84 separate gacchas have appeared since the 7th–8th century, only a few have survived, such as the Kharatara, the Tapa, the Achal, the Paichand or Parshwachandra Gaccha. While the gacchas do not differ from one another in matters of doctrine, they do differ on issues of practice, in particular those practices relating to the sacred calendar and to ritual. The various gacchas al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
