Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

Author(s): Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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Twenty-Four Tirtharkaras and Their Activities and Teachings
kings and aristocrats but also of ordinary people. His chief disciples, ganadharis were all Brāhmaṇas and this suggests that like the Upanişads which were products of a section of Brāhmaṇas or Kșatriyas who were spiritually awakened to rise against ritualism, Jainism was also supported by a section of the intellectual heads of the society, though it was open to all, irrespective of caste or status. The fact that Mahāvīra did not give up ascetic practices like Buddha, deserves notice. His penances proved helpful to the acquisition of the highest knowledge. He had started proaching Jainism with an excellent staff of eleven gaṇadharas, each of whom had again many assistants. During the life span of Mahāvira, the faith with its well organised Sangha gained adequate momentum in eastern India. but it gradually ceased to continue as one single unit. Inspite of all his endeavour to the cause of unity and consolidation of the organisation Mahāvira failed to achieve that position. According to the Jaina texts99 Mahāvīra had to face at least two schisms during his life-time and the other schisms took place after his demise.
These differences ultimately led to the great schism100 in the Jaina community in about AD 79 or 82—the Śvetāmbaras and Digambaras. The Svetāmbaras and the Digambaras were the two principal subsects in Jainism in the early centuries of the Christian era; but later on various Sarghas emerged from these two main sub-sects. The reason or reasons behind the schism (nihnava) that have occurred in the Jaina organisation cannot be determined definitely at the present state of our knowledge. The Digambaras speak of a legend about the origin of division, which differs from the legend prevalent among the Svetāmbaras.101 Again, the Svetāmbara canonical works, such as, Į'hūna and the Nijjutti, Bhūsa, and Mülabhāsa on Āvassaya and Visesa vassayabhāsa are noted seven schisins, whereas in Hemacandra Suri's commentary on Visesa are noted eight schisms, of which the first was organised by Mahāvira's son-in-law, Jamāli; and eighth gave rise to the Digambara sect.
The names of dharmācāryas associated with the seven schisms, the views they dogmatically asserted and the places where they were first declared, are given below in a tabular from.102
To these seven schisms may be added the eighth known as Botikadrsți. The founder of this drşți was Sivabhūti alias Sahasramall.103 He insisted upon practising jina-kalpa (the other way of