Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 38

JANUARY, 1977
109
metaphysical foundation.81 Between the strata of the late second era and the earliest layer of the third era there was a considerable gap of 259 years, 82 caused by a monastic evolution. During the era of Mahavira there appeared the members of gana and a class of pontiffs called Ganadharas88 except the Acaryas, Suris, Bhattarakas, etc. of latei periods.
Post-Mahavira Period—1st Phase :
The earliest sub-division of the post-Tirthankara era of Mahavira is represented by the Ganadhara84 Sudharma, endowed with richness in professional intellectual thoughts, so the reconstruction of what the Agama was like in those days was probably quite accurate, as is evidenced that Ganadhara Sudharma Svami transmitted the entire Agamas through his mouth to his disciple Jambu Svami.85 The Jaina Sanghas living in the post-Mahavira period were varied and complex that they must have evolved from the tradition of parent-tirtha dating back to the earliest era.86 All the present-day Jaina Sanghas, ganas, gacchas, etc., which carry on the Jaina cultural heritage of the past, have links with their parent Sanghas in these days.87
Evolution of Jaina Sangha since the first phase of post-Mahavira period has not been marked by the establishment of entirely new structure but by the division or ramification of lines already present and by the replacement of original primitive form of Sangha, with better adapted ones. 88 The fact that no new tirthas have originated since the early postMahavria era does not necessarily mean that no other patterns of Sanghaorganization were possible or that mutations for new patterns of Jaina Sangha did not occur. It probably indicated only that by that time the existing forms of Jaina Sangha had reached a degree of adaptation to the social environment which gave them a marked advantage over any new unadapted type.
81 Bhagavati, Sutrakrtanga, Uttaradhyayana Sutra, etc. 82 Kalpasutra, 6. 148. 83 See Kalpasutra Sthaviravali, pp. 247-8; Avasyaka Niryukti 268. 84 Kalpasutra, Ksana 8. 86 See the Agamas, Introduction. 86 There issued some branches from the line of the tirtha of Mahavira after
Sambhutivijaya and Bhadrabahu, the two disciples of Yasobhadra in the postMahavira period. See Kalpasutra, K sana 8. Every Jaina gana or gaccha to-day claims that it had issued from some Sangha which had direct link with the parent-tirtha of Mahavira. Many ramifications of the main line of Jaina Sangha issued after Sambhutivijaya and Bhadrabahu because of different leaderships. See Kalpasutra, Ksana, 8.
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