History of Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 001727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 616
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & History
File Size: 12 MB

Page 237

S. B. DEO
ship of a gaccha, for it is explained there as the 'ekācāryaparivāraḥ' i.e. the following of one ācārya. The same is the case in one of the Prakirnakas," which explains a gaccha as consisting of monks of different age (sabālavṛddhākulam gaccham). The Chedasūtras like Vyavahara, Nisitha and Bṛhatkalpa seldom speak of a gaccha, and it may be, that with the spread of Jainism, smaller groups than the gana were found to be more convenient both for Church administration and for the purpose of touring life.
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That every monk had to owe allegiance to a particular gaccha is clear from some verses in the Oghaniryukti which compare the monks, living outside the gaccha, with fish out of water. The corporate life was essential for the maintenance of and mutual control over perfect moral behaviour, and for keeping the unity of the Church intact.88 Only the pratyekabuddhas, the jinakalpikas and those following the pratimas were allowed to stay outside the gaccha.99
The gaccha, according to the Aupapätika100 was under an ācārya, while according to the Gacchäcära101 the sûri was the sole support (medhi alambaṇam) of a gaccha. Suri seems to be a later term for the ācārya as we seldom find it in the earlier portions of the Jaina Canon. That officer looked after the spiritual aspect of the group, and the members of a gaccha had to conform to the rules of behaviour as expected of every member, 102
Thus it would be clear that the institution of the gaccha came into prominence in the Upangas, the Niryuktis, and later texts of the Canon like the Prakirņakas, even though the Chedasütras gave prominence to the gana.
Gumma:
This was a part of the gaccha (gacchaikadeśa) and was under the control of an upadhyāya,103
97. Gaccha. v. 22; the Avasyaka-N. speaks of three hundred members of a gaccha under the gandhara of Mahavira: v. 597.
98. Ogha-N. 116-117; 488.
99. Ibid., 125.
100. P. 125.
101. V. 8.
102. The Gacchacara mentions many moral qualities of a good gaccha:
Good gaccha: vs. 51-75; 77-84; 86-87; 90; 98-100; 102, 104, 105, 117, 123, 127, 130-131. Bad gaccha: vs. 50, 76, 85, 88-89, 91-97, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106-116; 118-122; 124-126; 128-129; 132-134.
103. Aupa. p. 86; It may be a territorial unit: from Sk. 'gulma'..