Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

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

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Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India
this gap became widen and it makes its reflection even in the literatures. In fact, no attempt had been made for bridging the gap of differences between these two major divisions. On the other hand, these major sects themselves were further subdivided into several smaller groups like the Sainghus and the Gaņas in south, and into Kulas, Sakhās and later on, into Gacchas in the north.
REFERENCES
Tirthankara means a prophet. According to the Brhatsvayambhustotra, 9 of Samantabhadra--"A tirtharikara is he by whom was shown the broad fording-place of virtue, the best of all reaching which men overcome sorrow". Tirtha also means dharma or religious system, one who expounds dharma (Tirtha dharma karoti prakatayati iti tirthakarah, Svatirthânāmādikartārah lirihakarā”. B.C. Bhattacharya, The Jaina Iconography, (p. 11). Another version runs ihus: Tiryate anenai. cf. Tarantiyena samsurasāgaramiti tirtha pravacanam tadavyatirekādeva sanghastirtha tatkaranasilat vātirthakarüh (Bhagavati-sūtra, 1.1.30. B.C. Bhattacharya, op. cit., p. 11). So Tirtham or dharma by which this ocean of Samsora or transmigration can be crossed. According to Svetāmbara view, Tirtham means a Sanghā or an institution and a tirtharikara is the founder of such institution or community which is of four in number-such as, Sadhu (monk), Sadhyi (nun), Sravaka (lay-follower), and Srūvakà (lay-women follower).
According to Bühler (Indian Sects of the Jainas, p. 8) the Brāhmanical ideas (like the successive appearance of fourteen Manus, etc.) may possibly have given rise to the doctrines of the twenty-five Buddhas and twenty-four Jinas, which are later additions in both systems. Jina or conqueror is the other name of the tirthankara from which the religion has been named as Jaina. The term Jina means one who conquers the enemies, such as, lust, anger, ctc. (Jayati nirākaroti rāgadveşādirūpănarātiniti Jinah-B.C. Bhattacharya, op. cit., p. 12).
*There are two great kalpas (cycles)--utsarpiņi (evolution) and Avasarpiņi (in volution). Each of these is divided into six periods:
(a) Sukhama sukhama or the period of great happiness; (b) Sukhama or the period of happiness; (c) Sukhama duhk hama or the age of happiness and some misery; (d) Duhk hama sukhama or the age of misery and some happiness;
(e) Duḥkhama or the age of misery. The present era is the fifth one which is to last twenty-one thousand years. About two thousand and five hundred years have already elapsed by this time.
(f) Duhkhama dulkhama or the age of extreme misery.
---Mrs. Sinclair Stevenson, The Heart of Jainism, pp. 272-76; H.R. Kapadia, The Jaina Religion and Literature, vol. I, pp. 17-20.
'Heinrich Zimmer, Philosophies of India, ed. J. Campbell, pp. 305ff. "Bihar Through the Ages, p. 125. 'Eliot, Hindu ism and Buddhism, I, p. 111. 'IA, IX, p. 160.
religion has ch as, lust, ang. cit., p. 12)