Jain Journal 1977 10

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

Page 35

OCTOBER, 1977
move from place to place for pajjuşana and vihārayātra within their regions. Jaina monastic community from the neighbouring missionterritories sometimes moved to the other mission-territory for religious tour, and subsequently evolved into new monastic orders. Jaina Sanghas found in those mission-territories are only those that could survive the trip.
69
There are many facts about the present distribution of Jaina community and its monastic orders which can be explained only by the evolutionary history of each, Jaina Sangha or gana, or gaccha, etc. The Digambara Jaina Sanghas or ganas are found more only in South India (at present in Maharastra and Karnataka) and in Inner India (MadhyaPradesh and some parts of Rajasthan) and in some parts of Uttar Pradesh in considerable number, while the Svetambara ganas or gacchas are largely distributed in Western India (Gujarat and some parts of Rajasthan).
It is well known that early in the eras of the last two Tirthankaras— Parsvanatha and Mahavira, North India was much better field for Jainadharma and its mission than it is now and North India was connected with East India by a land link at the border of Bihar and possibly with Bengal (Vanga) and Kalinga. The climate of this region was perhaps much warmer than at present and the archaeological evidence shows that Jaina Sanghas, ganas, kulas and sakhas were distributed over the entire region. Late in the post-Mahaviran period the Western part of Northern India became the sphere of Jaina missionary activity1o. And probably colder and dry climate and unfavourable social and political conditions of North India might have caused some of Jaina Sanghas, ganas, kulas, and sakhas, etc. to be extinct there. Then probably some of them moving from North India possibly met the mountain region and desert of Rajasthan and other obstacles in Western and Northern Rajathan, eliminating any obstacles on their way for survival. Jaina sanghas, ganas, gacchas, etc. survived in Southern India11 and Western India12
• For example, Nirgranthagaccha evolved into Kotika-gaccha, Candra-gaccha Vanavasi-gaccha, Vata-gaccha, and Tapa-gaccha in course of its evolution in a straight line. See Pattavali Samuccaya, Pt. 1, pp. 45-57.
⚫ See Early Mathura Inscriptions and Kalpasutra, Sthaviravali, for Godasa gana, Tamraliptike Sakha, etc. which were distributed in Bengal in the post-Mahavira period.
10 Ibid.
11
See Digambara Pattavalis, Darsanasara, Jaina Siddhanta Bhaskara, Bhattarakasampradaya, Jaina Silalekha Sangraha, Vol. I. II. III. IV.
11 See Pattavali Samuccaya, Pt. I, Pt. II. etc.; Jaina Silalekha Sangraha I-IV.