Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 202

to his faithful and devoted services, Jaina Dharma spread far and wide; besides there was tremendous development & growth in rama a congregation also. The rama as went to distant lands both within and outside the country and spread Jainism. As a result, the versatility of Suhast was recognised and praised by one and all and he became renowned as epochal- c rya of his times. And from then onwards the third convention of epochal- c rya came into prominence. Both the posts i.e. discourse- c rya and epochal- c rya were not restricted to any particular Ga a as only the efficiency and worthiness of the rama a was taken into consideration. Hence both these ranks have been respected by the monks of all traditions and Ga as, till date.
The main responsibility of the epochal- c rya was to bring all the Ga as under one roof, encouraging them to adhere to its principles; and in the time of crisis, apart from administration of the congregation, their chief duty was to propagate and pay tribute to Jainism using all their abilities and skills. Their decisions were cited as authentic even in nonJain commonkties also.
According to “Du am k la rama a congregation Stotra”, in the Jain order, till the end of Du am k la period, Sudharm and 2004 other c ryas were considered as epochal.
The immediate advantage of the creation of new ranks like discourse
c rya and epochal- c rya was that, in spite of the sub-division of Ga a, lineage, branch, etc., the unity of the congregation remained intact and thereby preventing the disintegration of the congregation.
Before presenting the historical events during the respective periods of the c ryas of the aforesaid three traditions up to Devardhi K am rama a, the names of cryas of these three traditions are given below:
Initially, the lineage of rya Mah giri which was well-known as discourse lineage tradition is being given below:
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