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

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S. B. DEO
(i) Bispanthis
They originated probably in the thirteenth century A.D. according to GLASENAPP. He remarks that one Vasantakīrti laid down that "so long as these monks live amongst people, they should wear one garment". The monks belonging to this opinion are called 'Viśvapanthis'. These monks live in a monastery under the leadership of a 'Bhattāraka'. BÜHLER says that the Bhattārakas are completely naked while taking food and one of their disciples rings a bell so that other people keep away.316
Teräpanthis:
They advocate nudity, and are said to have originated in the seventeenth century A.D. They instal images but have differences in the details of worship.
Sāmāżyapanthis:
Their founder was Tāraņaswāmin (1448-1515 A.D.). idolatrous, and worship the texts of the canon.
They are non
Gumānpanthis:
It was founded by Gumān Rāi in about the eighteenth century A.D.
Totāpanthis:
No information regarding these can be had.317
Yāpanāyas :
There are two theories advocated regarding the origin of this sect.
According to Devasena's Darśanasāra, a Svetāmbara monk called Śrīkalaśa started it at Kalyāna when 205 years of the Vikrama era had elapsed.
According to another source, the origin of this sect belongs to the story of the queen of the king of Karahātaka. This queen, in order to impress the king, asked these monks not to wear clothes. Thus the Yāpanīyas practised nudity like the Digambaras, and carried on the rest of the practices of the Śvetāmbaras. They were, therefore, disowned by both these sects. Hence the writer of Nītisāra called them "jainābhāsā".
Afterwards they either dwindled into extinction or merged themselves into the Digambara fold, according to Dr. UPADHYE.
316. 1.A., Vol. 7, p. 28.
317. The above information is based mainly on NAHAR and GHOSH, op. cit., chap. XXXVII; and GLASENAPP, op. cit., pp. 351ff.