In
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 ...
, Sangha (Community of the pious) is a term used to refer to the fourfold community of ''Muni'' (
male ascetics), ''
Aryika
''Aryika'', also known as ''Sadhvi'', is a female mendicant (nun) in Jainism.
History
In the traditional Digambara tradition, a male human being is considered closest to the apex with the potential to achieve liberation, particularly throu ...
'' / ''Sadhvi'' (female ascetics), ''
ﾅ嗷ﾄ」aka
ﾅ嗷ﾄ」aka (Sanskrit) or Sﾄ」aka (Pali) means "hearer" or, more generally, "disciple". This term is used in Buddhism and Jainism. In Jainism, a ﾅ孑ﾄ」aka is any lay Jain so the term ﾅ孑ﾄ」aka has been used for the Jain community itself (for example ...
'' (laymen), and ''ﾅ嗷ﾄ」ikﾄ'' (laywomen).
The word is also used in various other ways.
Meaning
Champat Rai Jain, an influential 20th century Jain writer described the ''sangha'' as "those who practise the
''dharma''", "the community of the saints", "the community of the pious" and as "the community of the faithful".
Significance
According to the
Jain texts
Jain literature (Sanskrit: 爨憫･謂､ｨ 爨ｸ爨ｾ爨ｹ爨ｿ爨､爭財､ｯ) refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the ca ...
, the ''sangha'' will be maintained till the very end of the present strife-ridden spoke of time (''
pancham kaal''). With the end of the ''sangha'', the ''dharma'' (religion) will also end.
Other Uses
The word ''sangha'' has been used to refer to various lineages in the Digambara sect of Jainism.
History
Jain ''Sangha'' was established in
Madurai
Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...
in 5th century CE.
See also
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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 ...
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Sangha in Buddhism
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Sangat (Sikhism)
References
Citations
Sources
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