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स्वाध्याय परम तप
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B.1.1.3.3
Jaina Acaryas from South India & their Contributions Prof. Bhag Chand Jain
1.0 Introduction
The survival of Jainas, though as a minority community, for the last so many centuries in India- and especially in south India can be safely attributed, among other things, to the glorious and continuous tradition of Jainas saints for more than a thousand years. They never attempted to lead a solitary life in isolation from others. On the contrary, the Jainas always tried to preserve contacts with the general masses so as to encourage them to lead a religious life.
The contribution of South India to development of Jainism is remarkable one in all the spheres like religion, philosophy, literature, art and architecture. Here we confine ourselves to introduce mainly the pontiffs like Bhadrabahu, Guṇadhara, Dharasena, Puşpadanta, Bhūtabali, Kundakunda, Yativṛṣabha, Sivārya, Samantabhadra and Akalanka etc. who composed a vast Prakrit and Sanskrit Jaina literature.
2.0 Jaina ācāryas and their tradition
Śruta (Scripture or Canon) is the soul of the religious traditions. It is an anthology of the sermons of Tirthamkaras, may be called God in non- Jain traditions, or their direct or indirect disciples who have attained the certain spiritual purification. It is therefore established as an authority and priority of the form of religion. The scriptural texts are engraved in the hearts of believers who draw inspiration and revival from them in every age.
Acārya is the spiritual guide and the head of the monastic order. He should also be a proficient in his own philosophical principles as well as other's philosophies.
Jaina thinkers enriched practically all the faculties of literature. Mahāvīra is the Arthakarta of the present Śrutajñāna of Jaina tradition and Gautama Gaṇadhara is its Granthakartā. Gautama expressed his views without adding anything from his own side. The Śruta is of two types Arigabahya and Argapravista. Argapravista is of twelve types, viz:
1. Ayäranga
2. Suyagadanga
3. Thānanga
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