Gaccha , alternatively spelled as Gachchha , is a monastic order, along with lay followers, of the image worshipping Murtipujaka Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism .
14-516: Upkeśa Gaccha is the oldest gaccha (monastic order) of Śvetāmbara Jainism . It is one of the 84 gacchas of the Śvetāmbara sect that were once in existence. Unlike most other gacchas that follow Mahavira's lineage and begin with his disciple Sudharmaswami , it follows the lineage of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha and is said to have begun with his prime disciple Ganadhara Shubhadatta . It went extinct in about 1930 CE. According to Śvetāmbara scriptures, lineage-wise, Upkeśa Gaccha
28-445: A founder of Gaccha. Other major Gacchas are Anchala Gaccha and Parshwachandra Gaccha . Adhishthayak Deva or presiding deities are protector deities of followers of each Gaccha. They are as follows: Manibhadra Vira of Tapa Gaccha; Ambika and Bhairava of Khartara Gaccha; Kalika and Chakreshvari of Anchala Gaccha; Nakoda Batuk Bhairava of Parshwachandra Gaccha. Murtipujaka Kharatara Gaccha Kharatara Gaccha
42-569: Is one of Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka Gacchas . It is also called the Vidhisangha (the Assembly) or Vidhimarga (Path of Proper Conduct), as they regard their practices as scripturally correct. Kharatara Gaccha was founded by Vardhamana Sūri (till 1031 CE). His pupil, Jineshvara, got honorary title 'Kharatara' (Sharp witted or Fierce) because he defeated Suracharya, leader of Chaityavasis in public debate in 1024 CE at Anahilvada Patan . So
56-454: Is the oldest of all the 84 gacchas to ever exist. It is said to be of Parshvanatha's lineage. Historically, Parshvanatha's śāsana-kāl ( transl. time between Mahavira and Parshvanath, when Parshvanatha's teachings are followed and applied by Jains ) was 250 years, which is the smallest difference between two Tirthankaras in this Avasarpiṇī . As a result, ascetics of Parshvanatha's unbroken lineage were around when Mahavira
70-960: The 24th Tirthankara after she described the 14 auspicious dreams . According to the 6th century BC Jain text Uttaradhyayana Sutra , Keśiśramanācharya was around during most of Mahavira's life-span and is said to have met Gautama Swami , Mahavira's prime disciple. The text says that he met Gautama Swami to clarify his doubts about the differences in the teachings of both the Tirthankaras . Parshvanatha's ascetics wore coloured clothes (usually dark brown). Upon receiving satisfactory responses from him, Keśiśramanācharya merged his monastic order with Mahavira's congregation and all his monks became Śvetāmbara (white-clad) monks. Even though they merged into Mahavira's congregation, Upkeśa Gaccha always maintained its unique identity of tracing its monastic lineage to Parshvanatha . In 457 BC, 70 years after Mahavira attained nirvana , Ratnaprabhasuri ,
84-604: The Gaccha also got his title. Khartara also means that "which is beyond" (tara) "purity" (khara), that is, being upright with the absolute truth, by following the religious scriptures without deviation ( Jain Agamas ) as it is. Another tradition regards Jinadatta Suri (1075―1154) as a founder of Gaccha. Jinavallabha realised the difference between texts and words of teachers and put emphasis on sacred texts in Kharatara doctrine in
98-668: The Jains: Tapa Gaccha was founded by Jagatchandrasuri in Vikram Samvat 1285 (1229 CE). He was given the title of "Tapa" (i.e., the meditative one) by the ruler of Mewar . It was a branch of the Brihad Gaccha founded by Udyotan Suri. Vijaydevsuri (1600–1657 AD) is considered one of major leader of lineage. They reformed monastic order of Śvetāmbara Jainism. As a result of this reform, most Śvetāmbara Jain monks today belong to Tapa Gaccha. Kharatara Gaccha
112-662: The Paichand or Parshwachandra and the Tristutik Gaccha. While the gacchas do not differ from one another in matters of doctrine, they do differ on issues of practice, in particular those practices relating to the sacred calendar and to ritual. The various gacchas also trace their descent through different lineages. The number of 84 Gacchas is still spoken of by the Jains, but the lists that have been hitherto published are very discordant. The Upkeśa Gaccha is, historically,
126-647: The Swetambara Murtipujaka Jain community, to divide the community during time of drought to disperse them. They were: Chandra, Nirvriti, Vidyadhar and Nagendra. During 1000 to 1300 CE, the Gaccha replaced these Kula as basic divisions of community. Although some 84 separate gacchas have appeared since the 7th–8th century, only a few have survived, such as the Kharatara , the Tapa , the Anchala ,
140-508: The monastic lineage are repeated every few generations. According to the English translation of Vijayanandsuri's Ajnāna-timira-bhāskara by indologist and professor A. F. Rudolph Hoernle , the monastic lineage of the heads of this gaccha is found to be as follows: - Gaccha Gaccha literally means "who travel together". According to Jain tradition, in the first century, Vajrasensuri established four Kulas , subdivisions within
154-416: The oldest of all. It is also the only one of the 84 gacchas that follows the lineage of Parshvanatha . The rest follow the lineage of Mahavira . The following was obtained from a member of the sect as being their recognized list,--and allowing for differences of spelling, nearly every name may be recognized in those previously published by Mr. H. G. Briggs or Colonel Miles. The eighty four gacchas of
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#1732783139831168-474: The then head of this monastic lineage won the debate against Brahmins who advocated animal sacrifice in the name of religion at Upkeśapattan . As a result of that, his lineage came to be known as the Upkeśa Gaccha. History of the Upkeśa Gaccha enables a deeper understanding of the antiquity of the Śvetāmbara sect and the religious history of Western India and Central India . Several names of monks in
182-468: Was born. As per Kalpa Sūtra , an important canonical scripture of the Śvetāmbaras , Mahavira's parents were Śrāvakas (lay-followers) of Parshvanatha's ascetics. Deepvijay Kaviraaj's Mahavir Swami nu Halardu , a musical lullaby composed in the late 18th or early 19th century, describes Trishala singing it for Mahavira . It also describes Keśiśramanācharya , the then head of Parshvanatha's monastic order, informing Trishala that her child will be
196-401: Was founded by Vardhamana Suri (till 1031). His teacher was a temple-dwelling monk. He rejected him because of not following texts. His pupil, Jineshvara, got honorary title 'Kharatara' (Sharp witted or Fierce) because he defeated Suracharya, leader of Chaityavasis in public debate in 1023 at Anahilvada Patan . So the Gaccha got his title. Another tradition regards Jinadatta Suri (1075-1154) as
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