Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 30

JANUARY, 1977
101
Harikesi to his Sangha as his monk disciple by removing the caste bar against the downtiodden people of the then society of his time.
It is more important to note that the Southern Indian Jaina monks 30 could not produce or found new branches of Jaina Sanghas when united with the members of Northern and Western Indian Jaina Sanghas, 31 as they were too conservative in their behaviour. Within a few hundred years, thus new Sanghas of Jaina monks had developed due to probably the factors-geographical and local environs and variations, conservativeness, new ideas and thoughts on ethical conducts, codes of asceticism, etc.
The idea that the present forms of Jajna Sangha 32 or Sanghas arose from earlier, simpler one is unique in the evolutionary process of the history of Jaina Sangha with the development of man and the society of India. “Nature strives to change from the simple and imperfect to more complex and perfect."33
Variation 34 is characteristic of every group of Jaina Sangha, gana, gaccha, etc. Jaina monastic order may differ in many ways. More monastic orders of Jaina Sangha of each kind were born than could possibly survive in the historical process. 35 Yet since the number of each group remained
rly constant under natural conditions, it may be assumed that most of the Sanghas in each ages perished.36 Jf all the members of any group of
30 It is said in the Jaina literary tradition that when the Southern Jaina monks, a
section of the followers of Bhadrabahu II, returned to Magadha after a long period of their stay in the south, they could not make any impact on the local monks of
Magadha who adapted to clothing. 31 Although the tenet of Jaina religion is one but the language, social environments,
etc. are the factors which did not help the South Indian Jaina monks to unite with
their northern brethren. 32 The form of Jaina Sangha under the spiritual leadership of Mahavira was simple.
But to-day the forms of all Jaina Sanghas have completely changed with all sorts of paraphernalia of monstic rules and regulations, customs, etc. Look into the forms of the Mandirmargi Sangha of the Svetambaras and that of Terapanthi
Sangha of the Digambaras. 58 Biology, C. A Villee, p. 513. 34 After Mahavira's demise Jaina Sangha developed and continued for some time
in a straight line, but later on different branches cropped with variations in the
process of their development into ganas, kulas, sakhas, etc. 35 Eighty four gacchas of the Svetambaras are mentioned in the Pattavalis, a few of
them has survived, while others died out. 36 Old Jaina Sanghas in the post-Mahavira period and Acarya period are no more
existing, e.g. Tamraliptika sakha, Kotivarsika sakha, Nirgrantha gaccha, Kotika gaccha, etc. have perished in course of time of their development.