47-559: Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was, according to both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara sects of Jainism , the last Shruta Kevalin (all knowing by hearsay, that is indirectly) in Jainism. According to the Digambara tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya , the founder of the Maurya Empire . According to the Digambara sect of Jainism, there were five Shruta Kevalins in Jainism – Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu. The Digambaras consider him to have been naked. According to
94-470: A Sthavirkalpi monk and white-clad as Śvetāmbaras believe that the only other way for monks (known as Jinakalpa ) or the practice of being a Jinakalpi monk had become extinct after Jambuswami attained nirvana. Therefore, Śvetāmbaras hold that he was Sthavirkalpi and thus, white-clad. Śvetāmbaras believe that Bhadrabāhu is the author of the following texts within the official Śvetāmbaras scriptural canon (typically consisting of 45 texts). Regarding
141-652: A commentary on the Dhavala ), Samantabhadra and Siddhasena Divakara . The Satkhandagama and Kasayapahuda have major significance in the Digambara tradition. There have been several Digambara monastic lineages that all trace their descent to Mahavira. The historical lineages included Mula Sangha (further divided into Nandi , Sena , Simha and Deva Sanghas) and now largely extinct Kashtha Sangha (which included Mathura sangha, ""Lat-Vagad" etc.), Dravida Sangh. The text Darshana-Sara of Devasena discusses
188-601: A renowned Jain scholar, after researching the scriptures of the Digambara sect described several points of critique: - Nalini Balbir , another renowned scholar of Jainism , has criticised the Digambara views on liberation of women and advocates for a more inclusive and gender-equal interpretation of the scriptures. She lists her criticism in the following manner: - Balbir states that: The Digambara sect's view that women cannot achieve liberation in their present birth
235-453: A scholar of Hindu and Jain studies, less than one fifth of all Jains in India have a Digambara heritage. According to Heinrich Zimmer , the word Digambara is a combination of two Sanskrit words: dik (दिक्) (space, sky) and ambara (अम्बर) (garment), referring to those whose garments are of the element that fills the four quarters of space. The Digambaras and Śvetāmbara disagree on how
282-518: A treatise about the soul and Karma theory, written in Prakrit language. Philologically, the text belongs to about the 2nd-century, and has nothing that suggests it is of "immemorial antiquity". In details, the text is quite similar in its teachings to those found in Prajnapana – the 4th upanga – of Śvetāmbaras. Between the two, the poetic meter of Satkhandagama suggests it was composed after
329-895: Is a 'biological determinism' that is not supported by Jain scriptures. This view is a 'patriarchal interpretation' that has been 'superimposed' on the original teachings of Mahavira. Kristi L. Wiley, a scholar of Jainism , has also criticized the Digambara sect's views on liberation of women. Specifically, she highlights the following points of critique: Scriptures of other religions and schools of thought such as Buddhism , Islam , and Sikhism also criticize and condemn public nudity followed by Digambara monks. Other than rejecting or accepting different ancient Jain texts, Digambaras and Śvetāmbara differ in other significant ways such as: These are as follows 1. Ahimsa - nonviolence, non-injury, and absence of desire to harm any life forms. 2. Satya - truthful in one's thoughts, speech and action. 3. Asteya - non-stealing". One must not steal, nor have
376-466: Is completely unrelated to Digambar Jain tradition, even though they also practice nudity. The Digambara Jains worship completely nude idols of tirthankaras (omniscient beings) and siddha (liberated souls). The tirthankara is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the Kayotsarga posture. The truly "sky-clad" ( digambara ) Jaina statue expresses the perfect isolation of
423-448: Is considered to be parigraha (possession), which ultimately leads to attachment. The monks carry picchi , a broom made up of fallen peacock feathers for removing small insects to avoid causing injury and Kamandalu (the gourd for carrying pure, sterilized water). The head of all monastics is called Āchārya , while the saintly preceptor of saints is the upādhyāya . The Āchārya has 36 primary attributes ( mūla guņa ) in addition to
470-553: Is guided by a code called mulacara ( mulachara ). This includes 28 mūla guņas (primary attributes) for the monk. The oldest text containing these norms is the 2nd-century Mulachara attributed to Vattekara, that probably originated in the Mathura region. These are: 5 mahāvratas (great vows); 5 samitis (restraints); 5 indriya nirodha (control of the five senses); 6 āvaśyakas (essential observations); and 7 niyamas (rules). Digambara monks do not wear any clothes as it
517-423: Is one of the two major schools of Jainism , the other being Śvetāmbara (white-clad). The Sanskrit word Digambara means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes. Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions have had historical differences ranging from their dress code, their temples and iconography, attitude towards female monastics, their legends, and
SECTION 10
#1732772205333564-517: The moksha of Mahavira. That anga was also lost with the death of those two. Dharasena's teachings that have survived are Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama (Scripture of Six Parts) and Kasayapahuda (Treatise on the Passions), which were written on palm leaves near a cave in Mount Girnar (Gujarat) and a copy of which with a 12th-century commentary came to Tulu Nadu (south Karnataka). This has survived as
611-582: The Debate with the Ganadharas , a work associated with the literature on Avasyakasutra which has achieved quasi autonomous status. According to this text, the learned Brahmin Gautama summoned the gods to a great sacrifice but instead they flew off to hear Mahāvīra preaching at his second samavasarana near by. In fury, Gautama confronted Mahavira in debate, as did ten other brahmins in succession, with
658-404: The dravyanuyoga (entity exposition) contains metaphysical discussions. In the Digambara tradition, it is not the oldest texts that have survived in its temples and monasteries that attract the most study or reverence, rather it is the late 9th-century Mahapurana (universal history) of Jinasena that is the most revered and cherished. The Mahapurana includes not only religious history, but also
705-642: The Ācārāṅga Sūtra , the Kalpa Sūtra , and the Sthananga Sutra ), and thus, white-clad. Śvetāmbaras also consider him to have had been a Shruta Kevalin . Bhadrabahu was born in Pundravardhana (roughly equivalent to modern North Bengal ) to a Brahmin family during which time the secondary capital of the Mauryas was Ujjain . When he was seven, Govarddhana Mahamuni predicted that he will be
752-402: The Ācārāṅga Sūtra . Jinabhadra Jinabhadra or Vachanacharya Jinabhadragani Kshamashramana was Jain ascetic author of Prakrit and Sanskrit texts. Jinabhadra (520-623 AD) was a Śvetāmbara Jain monk during sixth-seventh century CE. Not much is known about his life but it seems that he traveled in western parts of India. He belonged to Nirvruttikula branch of Jainism and
799-474: The Śvetāmbara tradition, he was the author of the holy Kalpa Sūtra , which describes the life of Mahavira and other Tirthankaras . It also lists down a Sthaviravali (a succession list of the names of the head of the Jain monastic order according to Śvetāmbaras , starting with Mahavira's Ganadhara (disciple) Sudharmaswami ). Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a Sthavirkalpi monk (as described in
846-467: The 28 mentioned above. The monks perform kayotsarga daily, in a rigid and immobile posture, with the arms held stiffly down, knees straight, and toes directed forward. Female monastics in Digambara tradition are known as aryikas . Digambara nuns, unlike the monks in their tradition, wear clothes. Given their beliefs such as non-attachment and non-possession, the Digambara tradition has held that women cannot achieve salvation (moksha) as men can, and
893-581: The Digambara subtradition started in Jainism. According to Digambaras, they are the original followers of Mahavira and Śvetāmbara branched off later in the time of Bhadrabahu when their forecast twelve-year famine triggered their migration from central India. One group of Jain monks headed west and north towards Rajasthan , while the second group headed south towards Karnataka . The former became Śvetāmbara and retained their "heretic" beliefs and practices such as wearing "white clothes" they adopted there, say
940-545: The Digambaras. In contrast, according to Śvetāmbara, they are the original followers, and Digambaras arose 609 years after the death of Mahavira (about 1st century CE) because of an arrogant man named Sivabhuti who became a Jain monk in a fit of pique after a fight at home. He is accused of starting the Digambara Jain tradition with what Śvetāmbara call as "eight concealments", of rejecting Jain texts preserved by
987-571: The Mudbidri manuscripts, which were used by regional Jains not for reading and study, but as an object of devotional worship for centuries. In the 19th century, the fragile and decaying manuscript was copied and portions of it leaked to scholars between 1896 and 1922 despite objections of Digambara monks. It is considered to be the oldest known Digambara text ultimately traceable to the 2nd-century. These two oldest known Digambara tradition texts – Satkhandagama and Kasayapahuda – are predominantly
SECTION 20
#17327722053331034-513: The Pataliputra conference took place in 300 BC to put together the Jain canon anew. Bhadrabahu decided the famine would make it harder for monks to survive and migrated with a group of twelve thousand disciples to South India , bringing with him Chandragupta , turned Digambar monk . According to the inscriptions at Shravanabelgola , Bhadrabahu died after taking the vow of sallekhana (Fast until death). Digambaras believe that Bhadrabahu
1081-548: The archeological evidences which indicate that Jain monks moved from the practice of total nudity towards wearing clothes in later period. Tirthankara statues found in Mathura and dated to 2nd-century CE or after are naked. The oldest Tirthankara statue wearing a cloth is dated in 5th century CE. Digamabara statues of tirthankara belonging to Gupta period has half-closed eyes. In 17th-century, adhyatma movement in Agra led to rise of terapanthi and bisapanthi sub-sects based on
1128-426: The best a nun can achieve is to be reborn as a man in the next rebirth. The monks are held to be of higher status than nuns in Digambara monasteries, states Jeffery Long. From the Digambara monk's perspective, both Digambara nuns and Śvetāmbara monastic community are simply more pious Jain laypeople, who do not or are unable to fully practice the Jain monastic vows. Digambara nuns are relatively rare in comparison to
1175-707: The differences over acceptance of authority of bhattarakas . King Jai Singh II (1688–1743) of Amer kingdom built separate temples for the two sub-sects in his newly established capital of Jaipur . Terapanthis , led by scholars like Pandit Todarmal and Banarasidas , rejected the authority of bhattarakas . Early Jain images from Mathura depict Digambara iconography until late fifth century CE where Śvetāmbara iconography starts appearing. According to Digambara texts, after liberation of Mahavira , three Anubaddha Kevalīs attained Kevalajñāna (omniscience) sequentially – Gautama Gaņadhara , Acharya Sudharma Swami, and Jambusvami in next 62 years. During
1222-577: The following lineage of teachers are revered: Mahavira , Gautama , Kundakunda , Bhadrabahu , Umaswami , Samantabhadra , Siddhasena Divakara , Pujyapada , Manatunga , Virasena , Jinasena , Nemichandra . Kundakunda is considered the most significant scholar monk of the Digambara tradition of Jainism. He authored Prakrit texts such as the Samayasāra and the Pravacanasāra . Other prominent Acharyas of this tradition were, Virasena (author of
1269-598: The inscriptions describing the relation of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya, Radha Kumud Mookerji writes, The oldest inscription of about 600 AD associated "the pair ( yugma ), Bhadrabahu along with Chandragupta Muni ." Two inscriptions of about 900 AD on the Kaveri near Seringapatam describe the summit of a hill called Chandragiri as marked by the footprints of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta munipati . A Shravanabelagola inscription of 1129 mentions Bhadrabahu " Shrutakevali ", and Chandragupta who acquired such merit that he
1316-451: The intent to steal, another's property through action, speech, and thoughts. 4. Aparigraha - the virtue of non-possessiveness or non-greediness. Mahavira inserted 5th vow ie Brahmacharya - sexual restraint or practice of celibacy. Renunciation of sex and marriage. This was thought to be understood to within 4th vow of Aparigraha, but was more specified as 5th vow of Brahmacharya. Mahāvīra taught Five vows. The Digambara sect disagrees with
1363-416: The last Shruta Kevali and took him along for his initial education. According to Śvētāmbara tradition, he lived from 433 BC to 357 BC. Digambara tradition dates him to have died in 365 BC. Natubhai Shah dated him from 322 to 243 BC. Yasobhadra (351-235 BC), leader of the religious order reorganised by Mahavira , had two principle disciples, Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BC) and Bhadrabahu. After his death
1410-572: The mid-second century Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama "Scripture in Six Parts" of Dharasena (the Moodabidri manuscripts). One of the most important scholar-monks of the Digambara tradition was Kundakunda . Digambara Jain communities are currently found mainly in most parts of North India in states like Rajasthan , Uttar Pradesh , Delhi , Bihar , Jharkhand , Madhya Pradesh , parts of south Maharashtra and Karnataka . According to Jeffery D. Long ,
1457-401: The next hundred years, five Āchāryas had complete knowledge of the scriptures, as such, called Śruta Kevalīs , the last of them being Āchārya Bhadrabahu. Spiritual lineage of heads of monastic orders is known as Pattavali . Digambara tradition consider Dharasena to be the 33rd teacher in succession of Gautama, 683 years after the nirvana of Mahavira. In the Digambara tradition,
Bhadrabāhu - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-415: The nuns found in Śvetāmbara traditions. According to a 1970s and 1980s survey of Jain subtraditions, there were about 125 Digambara monks in India and 50 Digambara nuns. This compared to 3,400 nuns and 1,200 monks in the Śvetāmbara tradition. The Digambar Akhara , which along with other akharas , also participates in various inter-sectarian ( sampradaya ) religious activities including Kumbh Melas ,
1551-1315: The one who has stripped off every bond. His is an absolute "abiding in itself," a strange but perfect aloofness, a nudity of chilling majesty, in its stony simplicity, rigid contours, and abstraction. Modern Digambara community is divided into various sub-sects viz. Terapanthi , Bispanthi , Taranpanthi (or Samayiapanthi ), Gumanapanthi , Totapanthi and Kanjipanthi . Both the terapanthis and bisapanthis worship with ashta-dravya which includes jal (water), chandan (sandal), akshata (sacred rice), pushp (yellow rice), deep (yellow dry coconut), dhup ( kapoor or cloves) and phal (almonds). Bisapanthi religious practices include aarti and offerings of flowers, fruits and prasad whereas terapanthis don't use them. Bispanthis worship minor gods and goddesses like Yaksha and Yakshini like Bhairava and Kshetrapala whereas terapanthis do not. Bisapanthis accept bhattarakas as their religious leaders but terapanthis do not. Terapanthis occur in large numbers in Rajasthan , Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh . Bisapanthis are concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat , Maharastra and South India. Padmanabh Jaini,
1598-467: The religious order was led by Sambhutivijaya. After Sambhutivijaya's death, Bhadrabahu became the head of the monastic order. The Digambara sect believes that on the night of full moon in the month of Kartik , Chandragupta Maurya (founder and ruler of Maurya Empire ) saw sixteen dreams, which were then explained to him by Acharya Bhadrabahu. Bhadrabahu was in Nepal for a 12-year penitential vow when
1645-533: The sociological history of the Jaina people – including the Jain caste system and its origins as formulated by Rishabhanatha – from the Digambara Jaina perspective. The Digamabara tradition maintains a long list of revered teachers, and this list includes Kundakunda, Samantabhadra, Pujyapada, Jinasena, Akalanka, Vidyanandi, Somadeva and Asadhara. The lifestyle and behavioral conduct of a Digambara monk
1692-549: The supposed differences among the orders. The Mula sangha orders include Deshiya Gana (Bhattarakas of Shravanabelgola etc.) and Balatkara Gana (Bhattarakas of Humcha , and numerous lineages of North/Central India) traditions. The Bhattarakas of Shravanabelagola and Mudbidri belong to Deshiya Gana and the Bhattaraka of Humbaj belongs to the Balatkara Gana . The Digambara sect of Jainism rejects
1739-535: The texts and canonical literature of the Śvetāmbara sect. They believe that the words of Mahavira neither survive nor could be recorded. The original teachings went through a rapid period of decline, state the Digambaras, and Śvetāmbara claims of preserving the sacred knowledge and ancient angas is false. According to the Digambaras , their 33rd achārya was Dharasena who knew one anga , and he taught these to Pushpadanta and Bhutabali , 683 years after
1786-429: The texts they consider as important. Digambara monks cherish the virtue of non-attachment and non-possession of any material goods. Monks carry a community-owned picchi , which is a broom made of fallen peacock feathers for removing and thus saving the life of insects in their path or before they sit. The Digambara literature can be traced only to the first millennium, with its oldest surviving sacred text being
1833-525: The tradition of "naked ascetics" the Digambar monks. In 2011, Patrick Olivelle stated that the context in which the Greek records mention gymnosophists include ritual suicide by cremation traceable to ancient Brahmanism , rather than the traditional Jain ritual of embracing death by starvation and taking samadhi by voluntarily sacrificing everything including food and water ( sallekhana ). Dundas talks about
1880-423: The use loincloth during the 12-year famine, a practice that started the Śvetāmbara order, but is considered as baseless according to followers of the Śvetāmbara sect. Avashyak Bhashya , a 5th-century Śvetāmbara text written by Jinabhadra claims that the Śvetāmbara sect had always existed and that the Digambara sect was created by a rebellious monk named Sivabhuti . According to Śvetāmbaras , Bhadrabahusuri
1927-516: The Śvetāmbara interpretations, and reject the theory of difference in Parshvanatha and Mahāvīra's teachings. However, Digambaras as well as Śvetāmbaras follow Five vows as taught by Mahavira . The difference is only that Śvetāmbaras believe Parshvanatha taught one vow less (the Four vows except Brahmacharya ) than Mahavira . However, monks of Śvetāmbara sect also follow all 5 vows as stated in
Bhadrabāhu - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-494: The Śvetāmbara text. Digambaras, unlike Śvetāmbaras, do not have a canon. They do have a quasi-canonical literature grouped into four literary categories called anuyoga (exposition) since the time of the Digambara scholar Rakshita. The prathmanuyoga (first exposition) contains the universal history, the karananuyoga (calculation exposition) contains works on cosmology, the charananuyoga (behaviour exposition) includes texts about proper behaviour for monks and lay people, while
2021-495: The Śvetāmbara tradition, and misunderstanding the Jain ideology including those related to nuns and clothes. Neither of these explanations can be found in early Jain or non-Jain texts. The earliest version of this Digambara story appears in the 10th century CE, while the earliest version of the Śvetāmbara story appears in the 5th century CE. In 1943, Heinrich Zimmer proposed that the Greek records of 4th-century BCE mention gymnosophists (naked philosophers) which may have links to
2068-610: Was head of several monks. He was at Vallabhi during the reign of Maitraka king Shiladitya I in 609 CE ( Saka Samvat 531). He had knowledge of Jain canonical texts as well as the other philosophical systems prevalent in India. He restored Mahanishitha , a canonical text, in Mathura . He wrote several Prakrit texts; Brihatsangrahani , Briharkshetrasamasa , Visheshanavati , Visheshavashyaka Bhashya , Dhyanashataka , Jitkalpa Sutra and its Bhashya . Sanskrit commentary on Visheshavashyaka remained unfinished. Jinabhadra elaborated
2115-520: Was the author of the Kalpa Sūtra , four Chedda sutras, commentaries on ten scriptures, Uvasaggaharam Stotra , and Vasudevcharita . Śvetāmbaras believe Bhadrabahu's principle disciples were Sthavir Godas, Sthavir Agnidatt, Sthavir Yagnadatt, and Sthavir Somdatt. However, in the Pattavali of Kalpa Sūtra , he is said to have been succeeded by Acharya Sthulabhadrasuri . He is believed to have been
2162-475: Was the last acharya of the undivided Jain sangha. After him, the Sangha split into two separate teacher-student lineages of monks . Digambara monks belong to the lineage of Acharya Vishakha and Śvetāmbara monks follow the tradition of Acharya Sthulabhadra . However, the theory that the schism occurred at that time has not been historically proven.10th century Digambara texts state that Sthulabhadra permitted
2209-409: Was worshipped by the forest deities. Another inscription of 1163 similarly couples and describes them. A third inscription of the year 1432 speaks of Yatindra Bhadrabahu, and his disciple Chandragupta, the fame of whose penance spread into other words. Bhadrabahu-charitra was written by Ratnanandi of about 1450 AD. Digambara Digambara ( / d ɪ ˈ ɡ ʌ m b ər ə / ; "sky-clad")
#332667