Jaina Community a Social Survey

SR No.: 007019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Popular Book Depot Bombay
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 484
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 325

The Working Model
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they observe the limitation of caste and locality only. But it appears that they do take into consideration the surnames like Mālavanīyā, Muthā, Khim vasarā, etc. for purposes of marriage.
6. SANGHA, GANA, GACHCHHA AND SAKHA . We have already noted11 that the Jaina community was undivided upto the first century A. D. and that later on it was split up into several religious divisions and sub-divisions. The Jaina community from the early times consisted of four sections, namely, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Śrāvakas and Śrāvikās, that is, Male Ascetics, Female Ascetics, Male Laity and Female Laity. Afterwards for various reasons the divisions of Sangha, Gana, Gachchha and Sakha and of Gachchha alone, arose among the Digambara and Svetam bara ascetics respectively and as a consequence the lay followers of these ascetics were also split up into such divisions. With aview to know whether the Jainas are still having such divisions or not and if so, to find out their names, the question number 6 regarding the Sangha, Gana, Gachchha and Sakha, was asked. From the replies it will be observed that nearly half of them do not mention anything at all and among the persons who do not know about their divisions the Digambaras form a larger proportion than the Svetambaras. Besides, it has been stated that there are no such divisions among the Digambaras at present. Further, there are many Digambaras who have mentioned either the Sangha or the Gana only. Hence it appears, that the religious divisions of Sangha, Gana, Gachchha and Sakha are not so prevalent among the Digambaras now as they were formerly. Nevertheless, the following names of these divisions have been mentioned by the Digambaras, Sangha : Mūla and Kashthā. Gana : Balātkāra, Sena, Vidyā and Desīya. Gachchha : Sarasvatī, Pustaka, Nanditata and Bharatī. Śākhā : Prathamānuyoga, Charaṇānuyoga and Prābhịtaka.
Thus Mr.śāntirāja Šāstrī from Mysore belongs to Müla Sangha, Deśiya Gana, Pustaka Gachchha and Charaṇānuyoga Śākhā. The most popular grouping of these divisions seems to be the Müla Sangha, Balātkāra Gana and Sarasvati Gachchha as this grouping is found among the Digambaras from different parts of India.