Temple of Satrunjaya

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

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some of them fifty feet in height; and some of the more western caves at Elura belong to this sect,-as do also many old structural temples in Orissa, Central India and Karnatak. They have temples at Girnar and at Jayapur; at the latter place and at Nagor near Jodhpur, their Bhattarakas and many Digambara families reside. They have Bhattara kas also at Kela near Surat, at Nanni in Dharwad, and at Chikodi. In the temple at Bhelupura, the suburbs of Benares, the shrine comprises two temples one of the Svetambaras, and one of the Digambaras. The Digambaras are divided into several sects: the Mula Sanghis carry brushes of peacock's feathers (kucha), wear reddish clothes, and receive alms only in their hands,-they prevail in the Karnataka; the Kastha Sanghis make their images of wood, use brushes of the tail of the Yak, and live about Jayapur and Gwalior; the Terapanthis-it is said, formed in Todar Mall's time-do not worship the Bhattarakas, but honour the Jinas and the Jaina scriptures, which they hear expounded by one of their own laity-a brother (bhāiji),--they also prevail about Jayapur. The Dhundiyas or Lampakas believe in thirty-two sūtras, and do not worship images, though they revere the twenty-four Tirthankaras; nor have they images or pictures in their temples which are called upăsarā. They do not wash their clothes. They are pretty numerous about Surat, Ahmedabad and in Rajputana, as well as in Kathiawad.51
Of the eighty-four clans or gachhas52 into which the Jainas are divided, the greater number are Svetambaras, and those most prevalent in Gujarat are the Tapa and Kharatara gachhas; but members of the Oswals,53 Sagara, Bhavarsi, Ancalika, Punamiya, and others are also
51 They teach that the essence of religion consists in the observance by laymen of the
four dharmamarga or religious ways: dana-charity, sila upright conduct, tapa-austerity, bhavana—faith and by the Yatis of daya-compassion, of strityaga-celibacy, jibhakarma-control of the tongue, agnikarma—abstinence from the use of fire, karnakarma-avoiding the hearing of evil, vayukarmakeeping out of the way of the wind, and gotrakarma—the dissolution of family ties. Dr. J. Wilson, Orient. Chr. Spec., 1835, p. 295. To these add namakarma ---change of name, No two lists of these appear to agree; compare Wilson, Essays, Vol. I. p. 345, or Asiat. Res., Vol. XVII. p. 293; Briggs, Cities of Gujarat, p. 339, and Miles, Trans. R. Asiat Soc., Vol. III, pp. 357-371. The Oswal Banias present the Bhojakas with a horse and cauri on marriage occasions, and with a present of money when caste dinners occur. This and part of the information given above is due to Dr. Bhau Daji. For further information consult Colebrooke, 'On the Philosophy of the Hindus', Part iv.-Trans. Roy. Asiat. Soc., Vol I. pp. 549-558, or Essays (1837), Vol. I. pp. 378-390; 'Observations on the Jains'-Asiat. Researches, Vol. IX. pp. 287-322, or Essays, ut. sup., Vol. II. pp. 191-224; 'On Inscriptions at Temples of the Jaina Sect. in South Behar-Trans. R. A. Soc., Yol. I. pp. 520-523, or Essays, Vol. I. pp. 315-320; Major C. Mackenzie, 'Account of the Jains'--Asiat. Res., Vol. IX.
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