Evolution of Jaina Sangha

This article traces the evolution of the Jain saṅgha (monastic order) from the time of Mahāvīra through the medieval period. After Mahāvīra’s nirvāṇa, leadership of the community passed to a sequence of omniscient teachers—Gautama, Sudharma and Jambūsvāmī—who continued to propagate the doctrine. These anubaddha‑kevalins were followed by ācāryas known as śruta‑kevalins, who had complete command of the scriptures; Bhadrabāhu is traditionally considered the last of them. As the community grew, ascetics began to organise into monastic orders to preserve discipline and coordinate teaching. The principal Digambara order, the Mūla Saṅgha, is attributed to Ācārya Kundakunda and later divided into Nandi, Sena, Siṃha and Deva saṅghas, which branched into lineages such as the Balātkāra Gaṇa. Archaeological evidence, such as a 3rd‑century BCE Pandya inscription recording stone beds built for Digambara monks, attests to early institutional monasticism. In Tamil Nadu the Dravida Saṅgha, founded by Vajranandi in the 5th century, revived the older Mūla Saṅgha and fostered a bilingual culture where Jain monks produced Tamil literature. The article also explores the development of Śvetāmbara orders. During the early medieval period Śvetāmbara monks established fixed monasteries and developed hierarchical gacchas; differences in ritual and interpretation led to further sub‑sects, including the Sthānakavāsī and Terāpanth. In the Digambara tradition, sects like the Bispanthi and Terapanthi emerged in the 17th century as responses to the authority of the bhattārakas (pontiffs). The article discusses how political patronage, regional cultures and doctrinal disputes shaped these developments and notes that interactions with Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic rulers influenced monastic life. It concludes that despite sectarian diversity the saṅgha maintained core principles of non‑violence, celibacy and scriptural study, and monastic orders played a vital role in preserving doctrine and guiding lay followers through centuries of change.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.