Indian religions Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent. These religions, which include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism,Adams, C. J."Classification of ...

and society, an ''acharya'' ( Sanskrit: आचार्य,

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...

: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a title affixed to the names of learned subject. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism and secular contexts. ''Acharya'' is sometimes used to address an expert teacher or a scholar in any discipline, e.g.: Bhaskaracharya, the expert mathematician.

Etymology

The Sanskrit phrase ''Acharam Grahayati Acharam Dadati Iti Va'' means ''Acharya'' (or teacher) is the one who teaches good conduct to one's students. A female teacher is called an ''achāryā,'' and a male teacher's wife is called an ''achāryāni''

In Hinduism

In Hinduism, an ''acharya'' is a formal title of a teacher or guru, who has attained a degree in Veda and Vedanga. Prominent acharyas in the Hindu tradition are as given below : * Adi Sankaracharya * Ramanujacharya * Madhvacharya * Nimbarkacharya * Vallabhacharya * Chaitanya Mahaprabhu * Acharya Sandipani

Buddhism

In Buddhism, an ācārya ( Pali: ''ācariya'') is a senior teacher or master. In Theravada it is sometimes used as a title of address for Buddhist monks who have passed ten '' vassas''. In Thai, the term is '' ajahn, and'' in Japanese it is ''ajari''. In Vajrayana Buddhism, tantric masters are known as vajrācāryas (Tibetan: ''dorje lopön;'' Jp. “kongō ajari” 金剛阿闍梨).

In Jainism

In Jainism, an ''acharya'' is the highest leader of a Jain order. ''Acharya'' is one of the

Pañca-Parameṣṭhi The (Sanskrit: पञ्च परमेष्ठी for "five supreme beings") in Jainism are a fivefold hierarchy of religious authorities worthy of veneration. Overview The five supreme beings are: #'' Arihant'': The awakened souls wh ...

(five supreme beings) and thus worthy of worship. They are the final authority in the monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. They are also authorized to consecrate new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by them. An acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the

Chaturmas Chaturmasya ( sa, चातुर्मास्य, lit=Cāturmāsya), also rendered Chāturmāsa, is a holy period of four months, beginning on Shayani Ekadashi—the eleventh day of the bright half, Shukla paksha, of Ashadha (fourth month of ...

. Bhaṭṭārakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.

In scientific/mathematical scholarship

* Bhaskaracharya * Mahaviracharya * Bhaskaracharya I

Acharya (degree)

In Sanskrit institutions, acharya is a post-graduate degree.

References

External links

Scriptural References to 'acharya'
Dr. K. C. Jain {{Buddhism topics Titles and occupations in Hinduism Buddhist titles Buddhist religious occupations Swaminarayan Sampradaya Sanskrit words and phrases Titles in India History of education in India Jain religious occupations