Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

, the term Ganadhara is used to refer the chief disciple of a ''

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...

''. In ''

samavasarana In Jainism, Samavasarana or Samosharana ("Refuge to All") is the divine preaching hall of the Tirthankara, stated to have more than 20,000 stairs in it. The word ''samavasarana'' is derived from two words, ''sama'', meaning general and ''avasar ...

'', the ''Tīrthankara'' sat on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around, the ''Tīrthankara'' sits the ''Ganadharas''. According to

Digambara ''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing n ...

tradition, only a disciple of exceptional brilliance and accomplishment (''riddhi'') is able to fully assimilate, without doubt, delusion, or misapprehension, the '' anekanta'' teachings of a ''Tirthankara''. The presence of such a disciple is mandatory in the ''samavasarana'' before ''Tirthankara'' delivers his sermons. ''Ganadhara'' interpret and mediate to other people the divine sound (''divyadhwani'') which the Jains claim emanates from

's body when he preaches. The

monastic Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religion, religious way of life in which one renounces world (theology), worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic ...

sangha Sangha is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; Sangha is often used as a surname across these languages. It was historically used in a political context t ...

of Jainism is divided into a number of orders or troupes called ''gana''s, each headed by a ganadhara. In 20th century, statues depicting ''Tīrthankaras'' and ''Ganadharas'' were unearthed in

Mayurbhanj district Mayurbhanj district is one of the 30 districts in Odisha state in eastern India. It is the largest district of Odisha by area. Its headquarters are at Baripada. Other major towns are Rairangpur, Karanjia and Udala. , it is the third-most-popu ...

of Odisha.

List of the Ganadhara of 24 Tīrthankara

Ganadhara Vrisabha Sen

Vrishabha Sen was the ''Ganadhara'' of ''Tīrthankara Rishabhanatha''. According to Jain legends, after the ''nirvana'' of ''Rishabhanatha'', Bharata was in grief. Ganadhara Vrisabha Sen saw him and spoke to him: After this, Bharata recollected himself, touched the feet of ''Ganadhara Vrisabha Sen'' and left for his kingdom.

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