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The Working Model
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Whatever power the Bhattarakas are said to possess in theory, they are hardly exercised in practice. This is so because the Bhaṭṭārakas have ceased to command, due to their incompetence in various matters, the respect from the majority of their members. That is why their present position is stated to be very weak so far as the Saitavala, Chaturtha, Pañchama, Upadhyāya, Bogara, Vaisya and Kshatriya castes are concerned. In the remaining castes their position is quite ordinary and in fact they are considered to be a burden to the society as they live comfortably without attending properly to their duties. In general it can be maintained that at present excepting their few followers others do not take note of them.
The position of a Bhattaraka has also dwindled in another sphere. Formerly as a part of his duties, a Bhaṭṭāraka could control the working of the caste Panchayatas coming in his jurisdiction. But now this is not the position. A Bhattaraka wields no such authority among the Hummaḍa Mevāḍā, Narasingapurā and Khaṇḍelavala castes. While in the remaining castes, namely, Saitavala, Chaturtha, Pañchama, Upadhyaya, Bogāra, Vaisya and Kshatriya, the Bhattaraka is in theory considered as the supreme authority so far as the caste Panchayatas are concerned, yet in practice he is at present completely powerless. Thus it is clear that as a Bhattaraka has no control whatsoever either on individuals or on caste Panchayatas, his existing position is undoubtedly very precarious.
As regards the problem of reforming the institution of Bhaṭṭāraka there seem to be two different schools of thought. The first school maintains that the Bhaṭṭāraka system should be abolished altogether because in recent times practically all Bhaṭṭarakas have lamentably failed in the performance of even their ordinary duties. Some of the occupants were not sufficiently educated and moreover were devoid of character. Due to these reasons people have neither faith nor confidence in the institution. As a result the vast amount of property attached to the Bhattarakas is either lying idle or is being misused by interested persons. It is, therefore, suggested that instead of wasting such a large amount of property, the Bhaṭṭārakas should be removed for good, their properties should be looked after by Committees of Management specially organised for the purpose and the money should be regu
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