Jain Journal 1984 07

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

Page 23

The Problems of the Genesis of Various Schools of Jaina Samgha in the Acarya Periods Pre-mediaeval, Mediaeval, Pre-modern and Modern Period
Introduction
After the well-known historical crises leading to division of Jaina Samgha into Svetambara and Digambara schools, in 82 A.D. or 79 A.D. according to the traditions of the Svetambaras and Digambaras respectively we may start our inquiry, at the natural starting point, by considering how various schools of Jaina Samgha have come into existence in the Acarya periods or in subjective terms, how they have emerged above the lower limit of our mental field of vision. In this inquiry, we must take account of the different modes in which they have emerged and attempt to give some general description and explanation of the phenomena of their rise so as to cover all the modes of their emergence which come in our observation.
J. C. SIKDAR
When we are identifying the representatives of the different schools of Jaina Samgha, our explorations reveal certain features in the background of Jaina Dharma and Samgha which first served as landmarks for a survey of the historical landscape and afterwards enabled us to make a provisional classification of various Jaina schools in the post-Mahaviran period, which have been identified. Thus classification is determined by two criteria. The primary criterion is the origin of Jainadharma; the secondary criterion is the original range of its geographical habitat. Now, on the religious criterion we classify Jaina schools into different groups in the Acarya periods. First, Jaina schools1 which carried on the traditions of earlier schools by taking over the religious thoughts and ideas of the earlier schools and dominant minorities of Acaryas; second, schools which affiliated themselves to earlier schools by growing up
1 e.g. Nirgrantha Gaccha, Kotika Gaccha, Candra Gaccha, Vanavasi Gaccha, Vata Gaccha and Tapa Gaccha of the Svetambara sect and Svetapata Mahasramana Samgha, Nirgrantha Mahasramana Samgha, Mula Samgha, etc. of the Digambara sect, carried on the tradition of the earlier Samghas.
e.g. Upakesa Gaccha and the Gacchas issued forth from Nirgrantha Gaccha upto Tapa Gaccha affiliate themselves to earlier Nirgrantha Gaccha, while Sena Gana, Deva Gana, Nandi Gana, Simha Gana, etc. were affiliated to Mula Samgha of the Digamabara sect.
2