A Bhaṭṭāraka (Jain Prakrit: भट्टारक "holy one") heads traditional DigambaraJain institutions. He is responsible for training scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing endowments, presiding over installation ceremonies and running Jain institutions.[1]
Bhattaraka Nayanadi, Khajuraho sculpture, 11th ent., Jain Museum
Bhattarak Mahendrakirti of Rehli giving pravachan (upper right), mural Patnaganj-Rehli, 18th century
The term bhaṭṭāraka was used for Virasena, Bhadrabahu and other notables.[2] It has also been used for the Tirthankaras.[3] It was in the past used for leaders of religious orders in Shaivism, Buddhism and other groups, but currently it is applied to heads of Digambara Jain institutions. Unlike a Digambara monk, a bhaṭṭāraka wears an orange robe, stays in a single place and is involved in management of assets of the institution.[citation needed]
Several of the Bhattarak seats were termed "Vidyasthana" i.e. centers of learning. These include Jaipur, Delhi, Gwalior, Ajmer, Nagaur, Rampur-Bhanpura, Karanaja, Surat, Kolhapur, Jinakanchi, Penukonda, Malkhed, Vijayanagara, Varanga and Hummacha.[4]
The role of a bhaṭṭāraka is described by Brahm Gyansagar, a disciple of Bhaṭṭāraka Shribhushana of Kashtha Sangh Nanditat Gaccha in seventeenth century of the Vikram era, while describing the six components of the Jain Sangha:[5]
"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 (brahma), muni (maha vrati), aryika and Bhattaraka."
Many of the bhattarakas were prolific authors.[6] They wrote hundreds of original books and commentaries on various subjects, in Sanskrit and in local languages. All existing Jain manuscripts available today owe their preservation to the libraries maintained by Bhattarakas. They trained and supported pandits. Until modern times, all pratishthas were supervised by them or pandits (such as Raighu)designated by them.[citation needed]
Present Bhattaraka Seats
Once bhaṭṭārakas were common all over India,[7] but currently, they are present only in South India, with the exception of a new Bhattaraka seat at Hastinapur. Famous bhaṭṭāraka seats include:
Karnataka
Shravanabelagola, 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.
Moodabidri, also a very important great holy seat of the Desiya Gana, Pustaka Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Charukirti. The original manuscripts of the Siddhanta Granthas like Dhavala are preserved here. The present swamiji is very much experienced most popular India and abroad scholar, master's degree, doctorate holder in various subjects. On 29 August 1999 swamiji took charge of holy bhattarak seat; it is independent holy ancient jain digamber acharya seat.
Humbaj, seat of Balatkara Gana, 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 Shikharji in Jharkhand
The Terapanth movement arose in 17th century because of opposition by elite householders to Bhattarakas. Still many Bhaṭṭāraka seats in North India existed until the beginning of the 20th century. In some locations disputes arose and the reformists opposed existing Bhattarakas because they did not display the scholarship expected, or disapproval of their spending of the institutional funds.[9] Many Bhattarakas were unable to find suitable disciples to take their place after them.
A new Bhattaraka seat has again come into existence at Hastinapur presided by Bhattaraka Ravindra Kirti.[10]
Theories of Origin
There are several theories of how the modern Bhattarka institution originated.
In its modern form, with the Bhattaraka as an orange-robed advanced layman, its founding is often attributed to Prabhachandra of Mula Sangh, Balatkara Gana Saraswati gachchha, who travelled from Pattana (Gujarat) to Delhi, where he was anointed in a ceremony as the first Bhattaraka of Delhi. He was invited by the ruler of Delhi, who is identified as Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.[11]
However Shrutasagara, in his commentary on Shatprabhrita, mentioned Prabhachandra's predecessor Vasantakirti as having adopted body coverage first.[12] The lineage linking Vasabtakirti and Prabhachandra is given as following (see Balatkara Gana):
Originally the wearing of clothes was regarded to be an exception to be used when going out. [13]Until recent time, many Bhattarakas used to discard clothing within the monastery on specific occasions like eating, image consecretion or initiating another Bhattaraka.[14][15]
^YASHODHAR-CHARITA : SACHITRA PANDULIPIYAN By Dr. Kamala Garg, Moortidevi Granthamala, 1991
^Ravindra K. Jain, The Universe as Audience: Metaphor and Community among the Jains of North India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 1999, p. 33.
External links
Media related to Bhattaraka at Wikimedia Commons
January 21, 2023
bhattaraka, bhaṭṭāraka, jain, prakrit, भट, रक, holy, heads, traditional, digambara, jain, institutions, responsible, training, scholars, maintenance, libraries, managing, endowments, presiding, over, installation, ceremonies, running, jain, institutions, shrav. A Bhaṭṭaraka Jain Prakrit भट ट रक holy one heads traditional Digambara Jain institutions He is responsible for training scholars maintenance of libraries managing endowments presiding over installation ceremonies and running Jain institutions 1 Shravanabelagola is the seat of the bhaṭṭarakas of the Deshiya Gana of the Mula Sangh Contents 1 Overview 2 Present Bhattaraka Seats 2 1 Karnataka 2 2 Maharashtra 2 3 Tamil Nadu 3 Historical Bhattaraka Seats 4 Theories of Origin 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOverview Edit Bhattaraka Nayanadi Khajuraho sculpture 11th ent Jain Museum Bhattarak Mahendrakirti of Rehli giving pravachan upper right mural Patnaganj Rehli 18th century The term bhaṭṭaraka was used for Virasena Bhadrabahu and other notables 2 It has also been used for the Tirthankaras 3 It was in the past used for leaders of religious orders in Shaivism Buddhism and other groups but currently it is applied to heads of Digambara Jain institutions Unlike a Digambara monk a bhaṭṭaraka wears an orange robe stays in a single place and is involved in management of assets of the institution citation needed Several of the Bhattarak seats were termed Vidyasthana i e centers of learning These include Jaipur Delhi Gwalior Ajmer Nagaur Rampur Bhanpura Karanaja Surat Kolhapur Jinakanchi Penukonda Malkhed Vijayanagara Varanga and Hummacha 4 The role of a bhaṭṭaraka is described by Brahm Gyansagar a disciple of Bhaṭṭaraka Shribhushana of Kashtha Sangh Nanditat Gaccha in seventeenth century of the Vikram era while describing the six components of the Jain Sangha 5 Hindi भट ट रक स ह ज ण भ रष ट चर न व र धर म प रक श द इ भव क ज व बह त र सकल शस त र स प र ण स र म त र आर ध कर गच छ उद ध र स व त मक र य बह स ध स म यम र त श भ करण क षम धरण ग भ रमत भट ट रक स ह ज ण य कहत ज ञ नस गर यत lit ९ Bhaṭṭaraka sōhi jaṇa bhraṣṭacara nivare dharma prakase dōi bhavika jiva bahu tare Sakala sastra sampurṇa surimantra aradhe kare gaccha uddhara svatmakarya bahu sadhe Saumyamurti sōbhakaraṇa kṣamadharaṇa gambhiramati bhaṭṭaraka sōhi jaṇiye kahata jnanasagara yati Thus a bhaṭṭaraka 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 brahma muni maha vrati aryika and Bhattaraka Many of the bhattarakas were prolific authors 6 They wrote hundreds of original books and commentaries on various subjects in Sanskrit and in local languages All existing Jain manuscripts available today owe their preservation to the libraries maintained by Bhattarakas They trained and supported pandits Until modern times all pratishthas were supervised by them or pandits such as Raighu designated by them citation needed Present Bhattaraka Seats EditOnce bhaṭṭarakas were common all over India 7 but currently they are present only in South India with the exception of a new Bhattaraka seat at Hastinapur Famous bhaṭṭaraka seats include Karnataka Edit Shravanabelagola seat of the Desiya Gana Pustaka Order The bhaṭṭaraka is named Charukirti This is where the Siddhanta Granthas were once preserved in the library before they were moved to Mudabidri Moodabidri also a very important great holy seat of the Desiya Gana Pustaka Order The bhaṭṭaraka is named Charukirti The original manuscripts of the Siddhanta Granthas like Dhavala are preserved here The present swamiji is very much experienced most popular India and abroad scholar master s degree doctorate holder in various subjects On 29 August 1999 swamiji took charge of holy bhattarak seat it is independent holy ancient jain digamber acharya seat Humbaj seat of Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Order The bhaṭṭaraka is named Devendrakirti This is the original seat of the order which once had branches all north India from Idar in Gujarat to Shikharji in Jharkhand Narasimharajapura Karkala Kanakagiri Jain Matha Amminabhavi Kambadahalli Sonda Jain MathMaharashtra Edit Nandani seat of the Sena Gana Pushakara Order The bhaṭṭaraka is named Jinasena Acharya Shantisagar belonged to this tradition Kumbhoj KolhapurTamil Nadu Edit Bhattaraka Laxmisena of the Jinakanchi Jain Math Bhattaraka Lakshmisena of the Jinakanchi Jain Math also known as the Mel Sithamur Jain Math who heads the Tamil Jains Bhattaraka Dhavalakeerthi of the Arahanthgiri Jain MathHistorical Bhattaraka Seats EditBhaṭṭaraka seats existed at the following places until recent centuries 8 North India Delhi Hisar Haryana Mathura Rajasthan Jaipur Nagaur Ajmer Chittorgarh Pratapgarh Rajasthan Dungarpur Narsimhapur Rishabhdeo Mahavirji Madhya Pradesh Gwalior Sonagiri Ater Chanderi Sironj Rehli Panagar Gujarat Idar Sagwada Surat Bhanpur Sojitra Kalol Jerhat Maharashtra Karanja Nagpur Latur Nanded Kolhapur Nandani Andhra Pradesh Penukonda Karnataka Malakheda Karkala SwadiThe Terapanth movement arose in 17th century because of opposition by elite householders to Bhattarakas Still many Bhaṭṭaraka seats in North India existed until the beginning of the 20th century In some locations disputes arose and the reformists opposed existing Bhattarakas because they did not display the scholarship expected or disapproval of their spending of the institutional funds 9 Many Bhattarakas were unable to find suitable disciples to take their place after them A new Bhattaraka seat has again come into existence at Hastinapur presided by Bhattaraka Ravindra Kirti 10 Theories of Origin EditThere are several theories of how the modern Bhattarka institution originated In its modern form with the Bhattaraka as an orange robed advanced layman its founding is often attributed to Prabhachandra of Mula Sangh Balatkara Gana Saraswati gachchha who travelled from Pattana Gujarat to Delhi where he was anointed in a ceremony as the first Bhattaraka of Delhi He was invited by the ruler of Delhi who is identified as Muhammad Bin Tughlaq 11 However Shrutasagara in his commentary on Shatprabhrita mentioned Prabhachandra s predecessor Vasantakirti as having adopted body coverage first 12 The lineage linking Vasabtakirti and Prabhachandra is given as following see Balatkara Gana Vasantakirti at Mandapadurg Vishalakirti or Prakhyatkirti Ajmer Shubhakirti Ajmer Dharmachandra Ajmer Ratnakirti Ajmer Prabhachandra who visited DelhiOriginally the wearing of clothes was regarded to be an exception to be used when going out 13 Until recent time many Bhattarakas used to discard clothing within the monastery on specific occasions like eating image consecretion or initiating another Bhattaraka 14 15 See also EditMula Sangh Kashtha Sangh Yati MahatmaReferences Edit Vilas Adinath Sangave Facets of Jainology Selected Research Papers 2001 Popular Prakashan p 133 143 https books google com books id dXVOXRrYQiQC amp pg PA492 amp lpg PA492 amp dq Acharyas Dharsena Bhattaraka amp source bl amp ots lH ak9sVk amp sig ACfU3U3AJmSOrLN9ST63vyYBGGbww8 Gng amp hl en amp sa X amp ved 2ahUKEwi49s 4fzkAhUCUK0KHXSeBawQ6AEwC3oECAkQAQ v onepage amp q Acharyas 20Dharsena 20Bhattaraka amp f false Agama Aura Tripitaka Eka Anusilana Volume 2 Nagraj Muni Concept Publishing Company 1986 p 492 Monolithic Jinas The Iconography Of The Jain Temples Of Ellora Jose Pereira Motilal Banarsidass Publ 2001 p 91 Jainism In South India And Some Jaina Epigraphs by P B Desai p 195 196 Joharapurkar Vidyadhar Pasusa September 1964 Jain sangh ke chhah anga Anekanta स ह त य क उन नयन म भट ट रक क अवद न PC Jain Parshvanath Vidyapith Swarna Jayanti Granth 1994 p 214 218 Vidaydhar Johrapurkar Bhaṭṭaraka Sampradaya Solapur 1958 Facets of Jainology Selected Research Papers on Jain Society Religion and Culture by Vilas Adinath Sangave Published 2001 Bhattarak Charcha Shri Digambar Jain Narhihapura Navyuvak Mandal Bhindar 1941 म द र स हम आच र यश र क बत ए म र ग पर चलन क प र रण म ल ग Dainik Bhaskar Apr 7 2014 Archived from the original on 14 February 2015 Retrieved 13 February 2015 द ल ल पट ट क म लस घ य भट ट रक प रभ चन द र और पद मनन द Parmanand Jain Agarchand Nahta Abhinandan Granth Part 2 1977 p 191 197 Jain Dharma Ka Maulik Itihas Gajsimha Rathod Jaipur Bhattarak Parampara Biharilal Jain Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth 1982 p 66 70 YASHODHAR CHARITA SACHITRA PANDULIPIYAN By Dr Kamala Garg Moortidevi Granthamala 1991 Ravindra K Jain The Universe as Audience Metaphor and Community among the Jains of North India Indian Institute of Advanced Study 1999 p 33 External links Edit Media related to Bhattaraka at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhattaraka amp oldid 1134821113, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
