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JAIN HISTORY LITERATURE and SECTS
E03 Jain Heroes
E03
Jain Heroes
01 Great Acharyas of Digambar and Shvetämbar Traditions
Great writings by Ächärya Kunda-Kunda, which is about 2000 years old, are revered by all Digambars as well as by many other Jains.
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The Shatakhand Ägam by Ächärya Pushpadanta and Bhutabali is one of the most ancient (50-80AD) scriptures accepted by Digambars.
The Tattvärtha-Sutra by Umäsväti or Umäsvämi is accepted by both major traditions, Shvetämbar and Digambar.
Ächärya Siddhasen Diwäkar lived during the time of King Vikramaditya and wrote about many aspects of Jainism. His Sanmati-Tarka is considered a masterly book and is enthusiastically studied by scholars even at present.
Sarvärtha Siddhi of Pujyapäd-swämi, in the 5th or 6th century, and Kashäya-Pähuda of Ächärya Gunadhara are some of the major works written after the compilations of the Ägams, along with the Shad-darshan Samuchchaya and the Yoga Drashti Samuchchaya of Ächärya Haribhadra-Suri, in the 8th century.
By that time, idol worship was firmly established and many temples were set up. This situation necessitated the help of well-versed people for consecrating the idols and for performing various rituals. In the Shvetämbar sect, this led to the rise of renegade monks known as Yatis. They used to stay in the temples and therefore came to be known as Chaityaväsis. They lived in affluence and availed themselves of all the comforts of life. Haribhadra-suri was the first to criticize their excesses. However, the evil continued long after that.
Noteworthy works after this period are the Mahä-Purän of Digambar Ächärya Jinsen (770-850) and the Trishashti (63) Shaläkä Purusha of Hemchandra-ächärya (1088-1173). Both these works are voluminous and deal with the lives of Tirthankars and other illustrious personalities.
During this time period, serious effort was made to curtail the excesses of Yatis in the 11th century by Vardhamänsuri. This effort was continued by his successors Jineshwar-suri and Jindatta-suri. The latter, popularly known as Dada Gurudev, founded the Kharatar Gachchha (Purer Sect) in about 1150. The excesses of the Yatis, however, seemed to have survived even that onslaught.
Hirvijay-suri was the well-known Ächärya of the 16th century. He seems to have impressed even Mugal emperor Akbar, who issued a proclamation forbidding animal slaughter on certain days.
The next two well-known personages are Yogi Änandghanji and Upädhyay Yashovijayaji. The real name of the former was Läbhänandji, but since he remained absorbed in the nature of the soul, he is popularly known as Änandghanji. He wrote many thought provoking Padas; the best known is his Änandghanji Chovisi that contains devotional songs in admiration of all 24 Tirthankars. Upadhyay Yashovijayaji was also a prolific writer. He wrote about almost every aspect of Jainism in Sanskrit, Präkrit, and old Gujarati.
02 Shrimad Räjchandra
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Shrimad Räjchandra (1867-1901 A.D.), born to a Hindu father and a Jain mother, was extraordinary from his early life. At the age of seven, he remembered his past life (Jäti-smaran Jnän) and described his experience as a proof of reincarnation. He also believed that his deep understanding and detachment was because of his knowledge of last life. He had been writing poetry since the age of eight; at the age of 16 he wrote "Moksha-Mälä" describing the Jain way as the true way and as the path of detachment. At the age of 19, he displayed his ability to remember and answer 100 questions in an order called "Shatavdhän" at Faramji Kavasji Institute in Bombay. At the age of 22 he married Zabakben and had four children.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
