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The Working Model
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From the above statement it is evident that the central places. of residence of a Bhattāraka are those where the caste people, to. which he belongs, are concentrated most. Hence we find that at places, which were and are strongholds of Digambara Jainas, like: Surat, Sojitrā, Kolhāpūra, Hūmacha, Śrayanabelagola, Mūdabidri and Kārakala there remain at a time more than one Bhattāraka.
The principal duty of a Bhattāraka is Dharmarakshā, that is, protection of religion. The protection is to be achieved by repuls-- ing the attacks of other religionists and by making his people more religious-minded by means of preaching and educating the people. This means that he is concerned with the spiritual welfare of his people and as such he controls the affairs of his caste so far as religious matters are concerned. Along with the religious duty he has to perform a social duty also. The social duty consists in looking after the interests of his caste members. He has to help them in social matters by giving them advice or by cementing their quarrels or by regulating social relations, institutions, customs and manners according to the rules of conduct prescribed by the Jaina books from time to time. Thus the nature of his duties is spiritual as well as temporal. It has been stated that even though the Bhattārakas are saddled with responsible duties, they care more for their rights than for their duties.
In connection with the question of appointing a Bhattāraka there seems to be no fixed rule. In general the procedure is that of Sishya-parainparā in which the existing Bhattāraka always. selects his successor from his disciples. When the predecessor nominates his successor, the latter has to be installed by the people of the caste concerned. This practice is observed by the Hummada - Mevādā, Narasingapurā and Khandelavāla castes. There is another way of appointing a Bhattāraka. In this method the successor is chosen from among the disciples by the caste members through their representatives known as Pañchas. This is the common practice among the Saitavāla, Chaturtha, Pañchama, Upadhyāya, Bogāra, Vaisya and Kshatriya castes. In the case of Bhattārakas coming within the jurisdiction of the Mysore State, the consent of the Mysore Government in the matter has to be taken into account and it is reported that in fact the Mysore Government exercises more right in selection than the people. Once a Bhattāraka is appointed, he cannot be removed from his position
