Bhattaraka

Shravanabelagola is the seat of the bhaṭṭārakas of the Deshiya Gana of the Mula Sangh

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A Bhaṭṭāraka (Jain Prakrit: भट्टारक "holy one") is the head of traditional Jain 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 Virasena, Acharya Bhadrabahu and other notables. 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 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 Nanditat Gacch in seventeenth century of the Vikram era:

Jain Prakrit: भट्टारक सोहि जाण भ्रष्टाचर निवारे, धर्म प्रकाशे दोइ भविक जीव बहु तारे
सकल शस्त्र संपूर्ण सूरिमंत्र आराधे, करे गच्छ उद्धार स्वात्मकार्य बहु साधे
सौम्यमूर्ति शोभाकरण क्षमाधरण गंभीरमति, भट्टारक सोहि जाणिये कहत ज्ञानसागर यति

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."

Present Bhattaraka Seats

Once bhaṭṭārakas were common all over India, but at the present time, they have survived only in South India. Famous bhaṭṭāraka seats include:

Karnataka

• 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 Sammet Sikhar in Jharkhand.
• 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 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.
• Narasimharajapura
• Karkala

Maharashtra

• Nandani is also the seat of Sena Gana, Pushakara Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Jinasena. Acharya Shantisagar belonged to this tradition.

Tamil Nadu

• Jinakanchi's bhaṭṭāraka is named Lakshmisena, who heads the Jains of Tamil Nadu.
• Arahantagiri

Historical Bhattaraka Seats

Bhaṭṭāraka seats existed at the following places until recent centuries:

1. North India: Delhi, Hisar, Haryana, Mathura
2. Rajasthan: Jaipur, Nagaur, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, Dungarpur, Narsimhapur, Rishabhdeo, Mahavirji
3. Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior, Sonagiri, Ater, Chanderi, Sironj, Garhakota, Panagar
4. Gujarat: Idar, Sagwada, Surat, Bhanpur, Sojitra, Kalol, Jerhat
5. Maharashtra: Karanja, Nagpur, latur, Nanded, Kolhapur, Nandani
6. Karnataka: Malakhed, Karkal, Swadi

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, Balatkara Gana Saraswati gachchha, who travelled from Pattana (Gujarat) to Delhi, 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.

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):

1. Vasantakirti at Mandapadurg
2. Vishalakirti (or Prakhyatkirti), Ajmer
3. Shubhakirti, Ajmer
4. Dharmachandra, Ajmer
5. Ratnakirti, Ajmer
6. Prabhachandra, who visited Delhi

See also

• Mula Sangh
• Kashtha Sangh