Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 28

Evolution of Jaina Sangha
J. C. SIKDAR.
Jaina Sangha has undergone gradual, orderly changes with the march of time since its beginning as a result of historical process. It has descended from simpler organisation? by gradual modifications which have accumulated in successive ages. The process of evolution of Jaina Sangha has not ceased, but is occurring more rapidly to-day than in many of the past ages. In the last few hundred years many Jaina Sanghas, ganas, gacchas, etc. have become extinct and others have arisen. 3 Although the process is usually too gradual to be observed, there are notable examples of evolutionary changes with the time of recorded history, for example, in early millennium B.C. Jaina monastic order of some sort was founded by the Tirthankara, Rsabhadeva, in Ayodhya, as the leader of Vatarasana Munist in a nascent form. This Sangha expanded and its members multiplied with amazing speed during the age of Mahavira who put Jaina religion on metaphysical foundation with ethical and logical principles and by the tewentieth century its branches are strikingly
1 Since the inception of simple Nirgrantha sect consisting of Vatarasana Munis
in the time of Rsabhadeva in the Rg vedic period this monastic organization appeared to be a little developed during the period of Parsvanatha and Parsva
patyas as shown by the Agamic historical evidences. • In the life-time of Mahavira the Jaina monastic organization developed more and
more by absorbing the Parsvapatyas, and heterodox sects into its fold having ganas and ganadharas, etc. In the post-Mahavira period it branched off into many sakhas, kulas, etc. as issued from different Acaryas. In the Acarya period different schools-sangha, gana, gaccha, etc. with all the paraphernalia of the monastic orders cropped up and became more complex in successive ages. Most of the eighty-four gacchas of Jaina Sangha are now extinct, whereas Kharataragaccha, Tapagaccha, Lonkagaccha, Sthanakavasi, Terapanthi, etc. have emerged in the course of the evolution of Jaina Sangha. See RV. 10, 136, 2-4. Vatarasana Munis were called Nirgranthas in later period. See Nyayamanjari, Kashi Edition, p. 247; Nyayamanjarigranthibhanga,
p. 115.
The total number of the actual members of the Caturvidha Şangha of Mahavira as available in the Agamas was 1417, not the stereotyped number as recorded in the Kalpasutra.