Bhattaraka
Encyclopedia
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions.
The term bhaṭṭāraka was used for Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Virasena
Virasena
Āchārya Virasena was an 8th century Indian mathematician and Jain philosopher and scholar. He was a student of the Jain sage Elāchārya. He is also known to be a famous orator and an accomplished poet. His most reputed work is the Jain treatise Dhavala. Late Dr. Hiralal Jain places the completion of...
, Acharya Bhadrabahu
Acharya Bhadrabahu
Acharya Bhadrabahu was a Jain monk. He is more famously known as a spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya and author of several texts related to Jainism, including some of the most important works, Upsargahara Stotra and Kalpasutra....
and other notables. It was in the past used for leaders of religious orders in Shaivism
Shaivism
Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and other groups, but currently it is applied to heads of Digambara Jain institutions. Unlike a monk, a bhaṭṭāraka wears an orange robe, stays in a single place and is involved in management of assets of the institution.
The role of a bhaṭṭāraka is described by Bhrahm Gyansagar, a disciple of Bhaṭṭāraka Shribhushana of Kashtha Sangh
Kashtha Sangh
Kashtha Sangha was a Digambar Jain monastic order once dominant in several regions of North and Western India. It is considered to be a branch of Mula Sangh itself...
Nanditat Gacch in seventeenth century of the Vikram era:
Bhaṭṭāraka sōhi jāṇa bhraṣṭācara nivārē, dharma prakāśē dōi bhavika jīva bahu tārē| Sakala śastra sampūrṇa sūrimantra ārādhē, karē gaccha uddhāra svātmakārya bahu sādhē| Saumyamūrti śōbhākaraṇa kṣamādharaṇa gambhīramati, bhaṭṭāraka sōhi jāṇiyē kahata jñānasāgara yati.
"Thus a bhaṭṭāraka illuminates both dharmas, is an expert in all scriptures, has the authority to recite the suri-mantra (to consecrate an image). He is also responsible for preserving the order. He is the head of the six limbs of the sangha: shravaka, shravika, pandita (bramha), muni (vrati), aryika and Bhattaraka."
Once bhaṭṭārakas were common all over India, but at the present time, they have survived only in South India. Famous bhaṭṭāraka seats include:
- HumbajHumbajHumbaj is a small village located in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is famous for being home to an ancient temple of Goddess Padmavati, and to the Humbaj Matha , an important institution of the Jain community...
seat of Balatkara GanaBalatkara GanaBalatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha....
, Sarasvati Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Devendrakirti. This is the original seat of the order which once had branches all north India from Idar in Gujarat to Sammet Sikhar in Jharkhand. - ShravanabelagolaShravanabelagolaShravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
, seat of the Desiya Gana, Pustaka Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Charukirti. This is where the Siddhanta Granthas were once preserved in the library, before they were moved to Mudabidri. - MoodabidriMoodabidriMoodabidri , is a small town 37 km northeast of the Dakshina Kannada district headquarters, Mangalore, in Karnataka, India....
is also the seat of the Desiyagana-Pustaka Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Charukirti. The original manuscripts of the Siddhanta Granthas like Dhavala are preserved here. - Nandani is also the seat of Sena Gana, Pushakara Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named JinasenaJinasenaJinasena is the name of several famous Jain Acharyas of the Digambar tradition.* The author of Harivamsha Purana in the 8th century. He belonged to the Punnata branch of Jain monks....
. AcharyaAcharyaIn Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
ShantisagarShantisagarAcharya Shri Shantisagar Maharaj, Charitra Chakravarti was the first Digambar Jain Acharya of the 20th century, and the first Digambar Jain monk to wander in North India after several centuries....
belonged to this tradition. - Jinakanchi's bhaṭṭāraka is named Lakshmisena, who heads the Jains of Tamil NaduTamil JainTamil Jains or Camaṇar are a Tamil people from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who practice Digambara Jainism . They are a micro-community of around 85,000...
.
Bhaṭṭāraka seats existed at the following places until recent centuries:
- North India: DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Hisar, Haryana, Mathura - Rajasthan: JaipurJaipurJaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
, NagaurNagaurNagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagaur District. The Nagaur city lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It was founded by the Naga Kshatriyas.- History :...
, AjmerAjmerAjmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, ChittorgarhChittorgarhChittorgarh is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar...
, Pratapgarh, RajasthanPratapgarh, RajasthanPratapgarh, is a town in Rajasthan, India. It is the district headquarters of Pratapgarh district the newest District of Rajasthan. Famous for its Thewa art, the town is surrounded by tribal villages.- History :...
, Dungarpur, Narsimhapur, RishabhdeoRishabhdeoRikhabdeo is a census town in Udaipur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.Rishabhadeoji is situated 65 km from Udaipur and is on Udaipur-Ahmedabad Road. The name of the town is Dhulev , however it is better known as Rishabhadeo. It is a well known pilgrim site...
, Mahavirji - Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior, SonagiriSonagiri-Etymology:In Hindi, Sonagiri means a palace of gold....
, Ater, ChanderiChanderiChanderi चंदेरी شندرئ is a town of historical importance in Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is situated at a distance of 127 km from Shivpuri,37 km from Lalitpur,55 km from Ashok Nagar and about 45 km from Esagarh It is surrounded by hills southwest of...
, Sironj, Garhakota, Panagar - Gujarat: IdarIdarIdar is a city and a municipality in Sabarkantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located about 30 km north of Himatnagar and 25 km from Gujarat's border with Rajasthan...
, Sagwada, SuratSuratSurat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, Bhanpur, Sojitra, Kalol, Jerhat - Maharashtra: KaranjaKaranja"Karanja" or "Karanja Lad" is a city and a municipal council in Washim district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Karanja is also known as Karanja or Karanja Lad and mainly referred as the latter most of the times. Karanja is a holy place for Hindus, Muslims and Jains...
, Nagpur, latur, NandedNandedNanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...
, Kolhapur, Nandani - Karnataka: Malakhed, ShravanabelagolaShravanabelagolaShravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
, Karkal, Swadi, Narasimharajpur
Many bhaṭṭāraka seats in North India existed until the beginning of the 20th century.
Theories of Origin
There are several theories of how the modern Bhattarka institution originated.In its modern form, with the Bhattaraka as a clothed monk, its founding is often attributed to Prabhachandra of Mula Sangh
Mula Sangh
Mula Sangh is an ancient Jain monastic order . Mula literally means the "root" or the original order.Mula-Sangh has been the main Digambar Jain order. Today the Digambar Jain tradition is synonymous with Mula Sangha. The great Acharya Kundakunda is associated with Mula Sangh...
, Balatkara Gana Saraswati gachchha
Balatkara Gana
Balatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha....
, who travelled from Pattana (Gujarat) to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, where he was anointed in a ceremony at the first Bhattaraka of Delhi. He was invited by the ruler of Delhi, who is identified as Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
Tughlaq dynasty
The Tughlaq dynasty of north India started in 1321 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the throne under the title of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq. The Tughluqs were a Muslim family of Turkic origin...
.
However Shrutasagar, in his commentary on Shatprabhrita, mentioned Prabhachandra's predecessor Vasantakirti has having adopted body coverage first. The lineage linking Vasabtakirti and Prabhachandra is given as following (see Balatkara Gana
Balatkara Gana
Balatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha....
):
- Vasantakirti at Mandapadurg
- Vishalakirti (or Prakhyatkirti), Ajmer
- Shubhakirti, Ajmer
- Dharmachandra, Ajmer
- Ratnakirti, Ajmer
- Prabhachandra, who visited Delhi