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The current Sthanakvasi sect has its origin from an older reforming sect, the Lonka sect of Jainism. Lonkashaha, a rich and well-read merchant of Ahmedabad, founded the Lonka sect around 1474 A.D.
Jain Sthanakvasi Sampraday
Apparently Lonkashaha's job involved coping books with included the ancient scriptures. While writing these books, he was struck by the fact that idol worship was not mentioned in any of the ancient scriptures. When he brought this to the notice of the monks, a huge debate took place on the desirability of idolatry. He opposed the rites where any form of violence or injury was involved. He finally started his own sect that got named after him. Lonka sect was able to become popular due to certain amount of slackness and internal squabbles prevailing within the then Shwetamber sect. In addition, the destruction of the temples
The Sthanakvasi Divisions (2009)
Name of Sangh
Shraman sangh
Swatantra Sampraday
Ratna Vansh
Gyan Gachchha
Sadhumargi
Jayamal
Sadhu Sant Kranti
Nanak
Madan Sudarshan
Hagamilalji
Arihant Margi
Maya Ramaji
Madan guru sangh
Jain Education International
JAIN DIGEST.. May 2011
and idols by the Muslim invaders may have also helped Lonkashaha to spread his doctrine. At a later state in or about 1476 Lonkashaha took sanyas without actually being initiated by any Acharya. He in effect became the Acharya of his disciples.
A another set of reform took place when a merchant named Lavaji (Varaji by some accounts) from Surat took initiation as a sadhu and followed a very strict from of sadhutva as per the doctrine of the scriptures. Impressed by his commitment to sainthood, most members of the Lonka sect joined him and the Sthanakvasi sect was formed in 1663 AD. Since then the Sthanakvasi sect has undergone some more splits, the most notable being the Terapanth.
Name of Acharya or Head
Acharya-1; Sadhu-243; Sadhvi-839; Total-1082 Acharya Shri Dr. Shiv Muni
(This section of Sthanakvasi Divisions is continued on Page 62)
11 sub sect -8 Acharya, 219 Sadhu; 997 Sadhvi - Total 1216 Acharya Hirachandraji
Gachchadhipati Prakashmuniji
Acharya Shri Ramalalji
Acharya Shri Shubhchandraji
Acharya Shri Vijayyarajaji
Acharya Shri Sudarshanlalji
P. Ratna Shri Padamchandaji Shashtry
Acharya Shri Abhaykumarji
Acharya Shri Gyanchandraji Acharya Shri Subhadramuniji Shri Prakash chandraji
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