Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume

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

Page 92

Bhattaraka Tradition
special type of religious functionary in society. In the "Caturvidha Jaina Safgha",. i. e, fourfold division of Jaina social organisation, consisting of Sravakas, (male laity), Sravikās (female laity), Sadhus (Male ascetics) and Sädhvis (female ascetics), he is placed above the laity but below the ascetics. As such he combines the characteristics of both laymen and ascetics. Like laymen, he lives in a house, holds estate, administers property, moves anywhere and uses all means of transportaion. At the same time like ascetics, he leads a celebrate and higher state of religious life, stays at one place during the 'Caturmas', i. e., the four months of rainy season, wears sparse clothing, and carries 'Pinchhi', i. e., a tuft of peacock feathers. In fact it is reported that in the beginning the 'Nirgrantha Sadhus', i. e., the usual naked ascetics of the Digambara sect, used to work as Bhaṭṭārakas but with the increase in property and extension of activities of a social nature, instead of Nirgrantha Sadhus special persons similar to Sadhus were appointed as Bhattarakas. That is why even today the Bhattaraka is expected to enter, even though for a very short period, the 'Nirgrantha Sadhu stage of the Digambra Jaina ascetic order at the time of his death.
Further, the Bhattaraka holds a distinctive characteristic position in society because he is regarded as a religious ruler. In this sense all the attributes, accessories and paraphernalia of a king are associated with the Bhattaraka. His 'Matha', i. e., central place of residence, is termed as 'Samsthana', i. e., State, and his ceremonial place of sitting is termed as 'Gadi', i. e., throne. Like a king, he maintains huge property, wears luxurious dress, lives in a palatial building, uses articles made of gold or silver, goes in a procession led by elephants and horses, moves in a special palanquin, is entitled to use accessories like 'Chatra', 'Camara', 'Abadagiri', etc., on ceremonial occasions, gives honorific titles to distinguished persons, issues proclamations and orders with his own seal, settles caste-disputes, holds enquiries, conducts court proceedings, gives judgements, prescribes punishments of fine, expiation or ex-communication and collects contributions or taxes from his followers. At the same time he enjoys certain privileges like going in a procession with his palanquin facing the road, using lighted torches during daytime in procession, and exemption from paying certain taxes and duties to the State. Of course with the liquidation of the Princely States in India, the Bhattarakas have ceased to use these royal honours, accessories and privileges. But it is a fact that in the past all rulers considered the Bhattarakas as "Raja-gurus", i e., King's preceptors and accordingly always received the Bhattarakas with honour and reserved elevated seats for them in the royal 'Darbärs', i. e.. courts. Many enlightened Muslim monarchs treated the Bhattarakas with respect and gave their royal recognition to the seats of Bhattarakas. For instance, in the "Gurvivali", i. e., the list of religious preceptors of the Balätkära Gaga seat of Bhattarakas at Karanja in Maharashtra it is specifically mentioned that the preceptor Vidyananda was recognised by the Turk Monarch Allauddin Khilaji. Even today the seats of Bhattarakas are treated with regard by the various State Governments.
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