Gaccha

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Gaccha, alternatively spelled as Gachchha, is a monastic order, along with lay followers, of the image worshipping Murtipujaka Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism.

Etymology

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Gaccha literally means "who travel together".[1]

History

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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 Anchala, the Paichand or Parshwachandra and the Tristutik 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 also trace their descent through different lineages.

Former 84 Gacchas

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The number of 84 Gacchas is still spoken of by the Jains, but the lists that have been hitherto published are very discordant. The Upkeśa Gaccha is, historically, the oldest of all. It is also the only one of the 84 gacchas that follows the lineage of Parshvanatha.[2][3][4] The rest follow the lineage of Mahavira. The following was obtained from a member of the sect as being their recognized list,--and allowing for differences of spelling, nearly every name may be recognized in those previously published by Mr. H. G. Briggs or Colonel Miles.[5]

The eighty four gacchas of the Jains:[6]

  1. ? *†
  2. Upkeśa*†
  3. Âṅchala*
  4. Jirâvalâ*†
  5. Khaḍatara or Kharatara
  6. Lonkâ or Richmati*†
  7. Tapa Gaccha
  8. Gaṁgeśvara*†
  9. Koraṇṭavâla†
  10. Ânandapura†
  11. Bharavalî
  12. Uḍhavîyâ*†
  13. Gudâvâ*†
  14. Dekâüpâ or Dekâwâ*†
  15. Bh nmâlâ†
  16. Mahuḍîyâ*†
  17. Gachhapâla*†
  18. Goshavâla†
  19. Magatragagadâ†
  20. Vṛihmânîyâ†
  21. Tâlârâ*†
  22. Vîkaḍîyâ*†
  23. Muñjhîyâ*†
  24. Chitroḍâ†
  25. Sâchorâ*†
  26. Jachaṇḍîyâ†
  27. Sîdhâlavâ*†
  28. Mîyâṇṇîyâ
  29. Âgamîyâ†
  30. Maladhârî*†
  31. Bhâvarîyâ†
  32. Palîvâla*†
  33. Nâgadîgeśvara†
  34. Dharmaghosha†
  35. Nâgapurâ*†
  36. Uchatavâla†
  37. Nâṇṇâvâla*†
  38. Sâḍerâ*†
  39. Maṇḍovarâ*†
  40. Śurâṇî*†
  41. Khaṁbhâvatî*†
  42. Pâëchaṁda
  43. Sopârîyâ*†
  44. Mâṇḍalîyâ*†
  45. Kochhîpanâ*†
  46. Jâgaṁna*†
  47. Lâparavâla*†
  48. Vosaraḍâ*†
  49. Düîvaṅdanîyâ*†
  50. Chitrâvâla*†
  51. Vegaḍâ
  52. Vâpaḍâ
  53. Vîjaharâ, Vîjharâ*†
  54. Kâüpurî†
  55. Kâchala
  56. Haṁdalîyâ†
  57. Mahukarâ†
  58. Putaliyâ*†
  59. Kaṁnarîsey†
  60. Revarḍi̐yâ*†
  61. Dhandhukâ†
  62. Thaṁbhanîpaṇâ*
  63. Paṁchîvâla†
  64. Pâlaṇpurâ*
  65. Gaṁdhârîyâ*†
  66. Velîyâ†
  67. Sâḍhapunamîyâ
  68. Nagarakoṭîyâ*†
  69. Hâsorâ*†
  70. Bhaṭanerâ*†
  71. Jaṇaharâ*†
  72. Jagâyana*
  73. Bhîmasena*†
  74. Takaḍîyâ†
  75. Kaṁboja*†
  76. Senatâ†
  77. Vagherâ*†
  78. Vaheḍîyâ*
  79. Siddhapura*†
  80. Ghogharî*†
  81. Nîgamîyâ
  82. Punamîyâ
  83. Varhaḍîyâ†
  84. Nâmîlâ.†

Present Gacchas

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Tapa Gaccha was founded by Jagatchandrasuri in Vikram Samvat 1285 (1229 CE). He was given the title of "Tapa" (i.e., the meditative one) by the ruler of Mewar. It was a branch of the Brihad Gaccha founded by Udyotan Suri. Vijaydevsuri (1600–1657 AD) is considered one of major leader of lineage. They reformed monastic order of Śvetāmbara Jainism. As a result of this reform, most Śvetāmbara Jain monks today belong to Tapa Gaccha.[1]

Kharatara Gaccha was founded by Vardhamana Suri[7] (till 1031). His teacher was a temple-dwelling monk. He rejected him because of not following texts.[8][7] His pupil, Jineshvara, got honorary title 'Kharatara' (Sharp witted or Fierce) because he defeated Suracharya, leader of Chaityavasis in public debate in 1023 at Anahilvada Patan. So the Gaccha got his title. Another tradition regards Jinadatta Suri (1075-1154) as a founder of Gaccha.[7]

Other major Gacchas are Anchala Gaccha and Parshwachandra Gaccha.

Presiding deities

Adhishthayak Deva or presiding deities are protector deities of followers of each Gaccha. They are as follows: Manibhadra Vira of Tapa Gaccha; Ambika and Bhairava of Khartara Gaccha; Kalika and Chakreshvari of Anchala Gaccha; Nakoda Batuk Bhairava of Parshwachandra Gaccha.[9]

See also

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Murtipujaka

References

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  1. ^ a b John E. Cort (22 March 2001). Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India: Religious Values and Ideology in India. Oxford University Press. pp. 42–44. ISBN 978-0-19-803037-9. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research, Vol-19, Issue no.-January-December.
  3. ^ Upadhye, A N. "Jain Bibiliography Part 2". jainqq.org. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  4. ^ Maharaja, Gyansundar. "Oswal Porwal Aur Shreemal Jatiyo Ka Sachitra Prachin Itihas". jainqq.org. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  5. ^ On the Indian Sect of the Jainas by Georg Bühler (Public Domain text). April 2004. Retrieved 16 June 2015 – via Project Gutenberg.
  6. ^ Those names marked * are found in Col. Miles's list Tr. R. A. S. vol. III, pp. 358 f. 363, 365, 370. Those marked † are included in H. G. Brigg's list,--Cities of Gujarashtra, p. 339.
  7. ^ a b c Glasenapp, Helmuth (1999). Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 389. ISBN 9788120813762. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Overview of world religions-Jainism-Kharatara Gaccha". philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/index.html. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  9. ^ Kristi L. Wiley (17 June 2009). The A to Z of Jainism. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8108-6337-8.
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