Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

Page 88

Bhatjāraka Tradition
Gachchha, i. e., a religious division of the Jainas, of a particular region or locality, the seats of Bhattārakas increased in number and were found in different parts of India during the medieval period. The location of the important seats of Bhattarakas of that period is given in the table below:
Region
Seats of Bhatjārakas
North India
Delhi, Hissar (Haryana), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).
Rajasthan
Madhya Pradesh
Gujarat
Jaipur, Nagaura, Ajmer, Chitauda, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Narasimhapur, Keshariyaji, Mahaviraji. Gwalior, Sonagiri, Ater (Malwa). Idar, Sagavada, Surat, Bhanpur, Sojitra, Kalol, Jerhat. Karanja, Nagpur, Latur, Nanded, Kolhapur, Nandani. Malakhed, Shravanbelagola, Mudabidri, Karkal, Humach, Swadi, Narasimharajpur. Melasittamur, i. e. Jinakanchi.
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
From this list of the seats of Bhațțārakas it is clear that the Bhattāraka system was completely absent from East India and from the major portion of North India, was more popular in the regions which were strongholds of Digambara Jainas and was mostly concentrated in the regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Further, the popularity of the system can be seen from the fact that at some places there were seats of more than one Bhattārakas at the same time. For example, at Karanja in Maharashtra there were 3 seats of Bhattārakas belonging to Sena Gana, Balātkāra Gana and Kāşthā Sangha; and at Surat in Gujarat there used to be one Bhattaraka of the Balatkāra Gana and one of the Käştha Sangha. .
Even though these several seats of Bhattārakas were quite active for long periods, many of them could not maintain their continued existence during modern times due to various reasons. As such at present we find that only 11 seats of Bhattārakas have survived in India and that they are continuing the Bhattāraka tradition with vigour and in a useful way. The list of these existing Bhattārakas with their capital places of residence and their traditional names is as follows: