Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 35

106
Principles of Evolution of Jaina Sanghas:
As already pointed out, changes in the organization of Jaina Sangha are the raw materials of its evolution. Besides, some sort of isolation of monastic order was necessary for the setting up of new ganas or gacchas and natural selection was involved in the survival of some Sanghas, ganas and gacchas, etc. but not all of the changes which occur in the monastic order. In addition, the following principles of evolution of Jaina Sangha may be subscribed.
JAIN JOURNAL
(1) Evolution of Jaina Sangha had occurred more rapidly at some particular periods of time than at others.66 In this period it occurred rapidly with many new forms appearing and many old ones becoming extinct, e.g. different ganas, kulas, and sakhas as recorded in the Kalpasutra Sthaviravali and early Mathura Inscriptions 67 have become extinct. In the medieval period the same process operated as it is found that most of the eightyfour gacchas mentioned in the Pattavalis 68 have died out, while Tapagaccha, Kharataragaccha, Sthanakyasin and. Terapanthi sects, etc., after their rise, are flourishing at the present time.
(2) Evolution of Jaina Sanghas did not proceed at the same rate among different types of its monastic orders. For example, at one extreme are Nirgranthagaccha, Kotikagaccha and Tapagaccha, 69 some branches of which have been exactly the same for the last few hundred years at least without progress, as the literary and archaeological evidences show this fact clearly. In contrast several Jaina sangahs, ganas and gacchas had appeared and become extinct in the past few hundred years, e.g., many of the eightyfour gacchas and other sub-branches mentioned in the Jain literary records have become extinct.70 In general the evolution of Jaina Sangha occurred rapidly when a gana or gaccha first appeared, and then gradually slowed down as the order became established, e.g., the development of Kharataragaccha, Tapagaccha, Lunkagaccha, Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi sects have slowed down after their first appearance.
E.g., evolution of Jaina Sanghas took more rapidly in the post-Mahavira period. See Kalpasutra Sthaviravali and Nandisutra Pattavali, etc.
67
Kalpasutra Sthaviravali and Early Mathura Inscriptions.
68 Pattavali Samuccaya, Pt. III. pp. 220-21.
69 See Pattavali Samuccaya, Pt. I, (Tapagaccha Pattavali), pp. 45 ff. and Jain Gurjar Kavio, Pt. II, pp. 704 ff.
70 Most of the eighty four gacchas and some sub-branches of Tapagaccha and Kharatara gaccha have become extinct. See Tapagaccha and Kharataragaccha Pattavalt. 71 When there took place the birth of these sects, there was at first a rapid growth in their progress but it slowed down with their gradual development and settlement.