Jain Journal 1975 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

JULY, 1975
functions were always the same to serve as Gurus, spiritual advisors to the laity, and as teachers of the holy wisdom43. An upper Guru called Acarya was chosen (elected) by the Jaina Sangha and headed them up as patriarch of the Sangha44.
Standing under the patronage of the Sanghapati-the monarch or the Seth at present, sometimes monastic Jainism had to help the administration in breaking the power of the presumably feudal notables, as is evidenced in South India45 and West India46 and doubtless did so with such.
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The Jaina monastic pontiff held great sway over the Jaina laities in things-political under the Jaina and non-Jaina rulers". The rather especially strict discipline in the hands of the Acaryas facilitated this. A monk excommunicated for an offence against one of the commandments or because of disobedience was boycotted and not able to exist48. Also, the obedience of the laity to the monks was boundless. This spiritual stratum was the real champion of the Indian civilization and was, therefore, one of the strongest opponents of foreign rule, which threatened their position49.
Economically the domination of Jainism in the outlying Indian territories may well have been co-responsible for the overwhelming importance of technical and industrial development50.
48 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
45 Jainacarya Simhanandi invested the princes Dadiga and Madhava with royal authority and made them rulers of a Kingdom in Karnatakadesa, having trained them in the science of polity. See JSI, p. 10.
46 Silagunasuri made Vanaraja Caora (Chapokot) the first king of Gujarat. Acarya Hemacandra helped Kumarapala in becoming king and was his special advisor.
47 Camundaraya of Mysore who was a Jaina Sravaka was a minister of the Mysore king Racamalla IV; Bhama Shah the minister of Rana Pratap, was a Jaina Sravaka; Todara Malla who was the finance minister of King Akbar was a Jaina laity.
48 In the Jaina monastic judiceary, it is called prayascitta-parancika, Bhagavati 25.7.801.
49 The spiritual stratum of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism is the real champion of India to uphold the glory of Indian culture and one of the strongest opponents of Muslim and Christian foreign rules.
50 The Gujarati and Rajasthani Jainas have been co-responsible for the overwhelming importance of technical and industrial development in Gujarat, Maharastra and other places of India. The money lenders turned as industrialists with the rise of industry in India, under the British rule.