Jain Journal 1979 01

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

Page 28

JAIN JOURNAL
meditation, etc.), reciting of the religious works like the Kalpasūtra, etc., and preaching literary works, etc.7.
Another type of favourable change is one which decreases the growing period of a Sangha on the total length of time required for a Sangha to develop. Such changes have enabled different Jaina monastic organization to survive further from some unsuitable northern zones of India due to socio-economic and political conditions and opened up a new area of living space and a new source of requisites for Jaina Sanghas to the Western and Southern India. 73
The evolution and adaptation of each Jaina Sangha or Gana or Gaccha have not occurred in a monastic vacuum independent of other forms ; instead, many Sanghas or Ganas or Gacchas, etc. have had a marked influence on the adaptation of other Sanghas, or Ganas or Gacchas, respectively. As a result of this many types of cross-dependency between two Sanghas or Ganas or Gacchas have arisen. Some clearest and best understood of these involve Gacchas?, Sakhas, Kulas, Anvayas of Jaina Sanghas.
Sakhas (branches of Jaina Sangha) are necessary for the religious dissemination of a great number of people. They are so dependent on certain branches of the monastic order that they are unable to survive as Jaina Sangha in a given region unless those particular groups of Jaina monks are present to preach religion there among them, e.g. some branches of Tapagaccha or of Kharataragaccha and the Murtipujakas (imageworshippers) in Rajasthan could not have flourished there without them even though all social and natural, climatic conditions were favourable until the monks of the particular Gaccha or Sakha (branch) went there and disseminated their religious thoughts and ideas, knowledge, belief and conduct. Other Jaina monastic orders have solved the problems of living in the north or elsewhere becoming immobile during the rainy season or migrating to a suitable place.
72 These works are being done by various Jaina Sanghas in India at present, 78 It is to be noted that the birth of the three great religions of India, viz. Vedicism,
Jainism and Buddhism took place in Northern India but they were much develop ed and preserved in Southern India. Even to-day Buddhism flourishes in Lanka to the South of India. e.g. Kasthasangha had four branches (sakhas), viz. Mathuragaccha, Ladabagada-Punnatagaccha and Nanditatagaccha. Bagadagaccha was one of the four divisions of Kasthasangha. Probably this Gaccha merged into Ladabagadagaccha. See Bhattaraka Sampradaya, p. 263.