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Evolution of Jaina Sangha
J. O. SIKDAR
I from the previous issue)
Evolution of Jaina Sanghas through Different Stages :
The period of evolution covered by Jaina Sanghas of the ages of Parsvanatha and Mahavira, the last two Tirthankaras, can be traced on the basis of genuine historical facts. The archaeological and literary records of Jaina Sanghas, ganas, kulas, sakhas, etc.41 in the post-Mahavira period are quite complete but those of anvayas, balis, etc. 42 of the Digambaras are regretably fragmentary. Most of the parental Jaina ganas, or gacchas lived either in tropical forests, (e.g. Vanavasigaccha) sub-forests (upavana), gardens (udyāna) and temples (caityas) in the past.43
The earliest monks of Jaina monastic orders were forest-dwellers or garden dwellers, next came the Caityavasin 44 monks (temple-dwellers) and the Vasati-or. Upasraya-vasin45 monks (cloister-dwellers) in later periods. From these early Nirgrántha Sanghas there evolved all types of ganas or gacchas, etc. some of which are in existence to-day. It is known that Kotikagaccha evolved from Nirgrantha gaccha, while Candragaccha evolved from Kotikagaccha, Vanavasin gaccha from Candragaccha, Vatagaceha from Vanavasin gaccha, Tapagacchia46 from Vatagaccha, Lonkagaccha47 from Tapagaccha, Ştbanakavasin48 from Lonkagaccha and
41 See Kalpasutra Sthaviravali and Early Mathura Inscriptions. 42 See Jaina Silalekha Samgraha, I-IV (Digambara Inscriptions) and Bhattaraka
Sampradaya for anvayas, balis, etc. 43 It is to be noted that Mahavira passed his ascetic life in forests, sub-forests,
gardens and temples (caityas) as it is evidenced from the account of itinerary
of his religious tour in his ascetic life. See Bhagavati Sutra, etc. 44 Ibid. 45 It is clearly indicated by the references to the early Mathura Inscriptions,
Digambara Vasatis and Svetambara Upasrayas that the Jaina monks lived in monasteries in later periods. See Early Mathura Inscriptions, Jaina Silalekha
Samgraha, I-IV. 46' See Pattavali Samuccaya, Pt. I. 47 Ibid. 48 See Pattayali Paraga Samgraha by Kalyanavijayaji.
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