Sudha Sagar Hindi English Jaina Dictionary

Author(s): Rameshchandra Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Vagarth Vimarsh Kendra Byavar

Page 256

(237). to his own views. As be laid stress on vided into several sections and subthe thirteen religious principles, viz.
sections like Samgha, Gana, Gaocha five Mahā vratas, five Samitis and three
and sākhā. In the Digambara sect, Guptis, his sub-sect was known as the Terā panthi sub-sect. About 150 male
there arose a number of Samghas, viz, ascetics, 300 female ascetics and one
Mūla (i.e., original) Samgha and othlakh ordinary laymen are the followers ers like Dravida Samgha, Kashthā of Terā panth i sub-sect. Terā panthis Samgha, Mā thura Samgha, etc. The are non-idolàtrous and are very finely Mūla Samgba was further split up into organised by their Ācārya (i.e. reli- four small Samghas for very trivial gious head) and every year on the 7th reasons. On this subject the following day of the bright half of the month of
stanzas occur in the Nitisā ra’, a work Māgha a festival known as “Maryada
of Indranandin : Mahotsava' is celebrated when all as
अर्हद्वली गुरुश्चक्रे संघसंघट्टनं परम् ॥6॥ cetics and lay disciples male female,
सिंहसंघो नंदिसंघः सेनसंघो महाप्रभः । meet together and discuss the various problems of Terā panthis. The penance
देवसंघ इति स्पष्टं स्थानस्थितिविशेषतः ॥ of Terā panthis is considered to be very
The Guru Arhadbalin effected the exsevere.
cellent organisation of Samghas : the The Terā pantha is known for its disci- Simba Samgha, the Namd i Samgha, plined organisation characterised by the famous sena Samgha and the Deva one Ācārya (i.e., religious head), one Samgha were well-known as they were code of conduct and one line of thought distinguished by the places of their The Terapanthis are considered re- establishment. Thus those who used to formists as they emphasise simplicity keep their rainy seasons retreat in the . in religion. For example, the den of a lion formed into a Simba Terā pantbis do not even construct
Samgha, those in the lower part of a tree monsteries for their monks, who inhabit a part of the house which the
of the Namdi species Namdi Samgha, householders build for themselves. those under the bushes, Sena Samgha Their religious head, Ācārya Tulsi,
and those in the house of a courtesan started the Anuvrata movement which named Devadatta, Deva Samgha. Furattempts to utilise the spiritual doc- ther, in the Samghas there were small trines of the Jainas for moral uplift of sections like Gana's and Gacchas, e.g., the masses.
J -51-56
the Namdi Samgha bad Balātkāra a progreffio AG-TAG - Rise of
Gana and Pārijā ta Gaccha. sections and sub-sections - Apart from
Even though there were sections and the splitting of the Jaina Church into
sub-sections among the Digambaras, various sects and sub-sects, we find really there was no difference in them that every main sect was further di
regarding religious practices and be