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A NOTE ON DEST-GANA. Until before the time when the Jaina Order came to be divided into the two prime sections, viz , 'Digambara' and 'Srētāmbara' it was also known by the general names such as giga', 'sara' etc. In about 136 A, V., which is about 80-81 A.C., it was split up into the two sections named above ;? whenceforth the Digambara section also came to be called as the "Mūla-Sangha" (FIFA) especially in the Deccaņ and South India. The famous Kondakundāchārya ( ITEERD), who was also called Padmanandi (qara)? is said to have been a leader of the Mūla-Sangla during his time.3. About 700 years after the Nirvāņa of Śrī Mahāvīra (528-527 B.C.) i.e., in about 172-173 A.C., this Mūla-Sangha again was divided into four sub-sanghas, viz., dapia, AFFE, ARÊT and daga by one Arbadbali Achārya who was the spiritual descendent of the great Kondakundācharya, and perhaps then or gradually later on came into being further sub-divisions called 'gaņa' (601), such as 'TSCHITTOT', 'g-arant' etc, and yet further ones called " gaccha " (1779), such as pergatitory, OrCalaia, etc., and still further ones called 'vali' (afa)*, such as gaatītafa etc. As will be seen from the quotations given below, all these different sections, sub-sections, etc., such as fia, nu, tess and the did not (and even now do not) connote any difference whatsoever, in tenets or obserrance or anything else of the members of adherents of the respective divisions, but, as it is said, they were brought into opérations merely as a set-off against the possible misunderstanding
1, guite afiang fa HATITEA ATUITA I ___ सोरठे बलहीए उप्पएणो सेवड़ो संघो ॥ (दर्शनसार श्लोक ११) 2. quafragmafuta: sitelr5€5: 1 (samo faro efo & 8) 3. startekaararanasanTaoTI (Ibid No. 69).
4. Be it noted once for all that this word 'af' is not the Sanskrit word 'afaineaning' a fold ', but a Sanskritised form of the Kanarese Word afar' (bali) which means 'a family', and of course a spiritual family' in this case.
