Acharya - in Jainism

In Jainism

In Jainism, an Acharya is a monk who is one of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi and thus worthy of worship. An Acharya is the highest leader of a Jain order. He is the final authority in his monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. He is also authorized to consecrate new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by him.

Some famous Jain Acharyas in approximate chronological order, are:

• Sudharma Swami
• Acharya Bhadrabahu (undivided Jain community, Chandragupta Maurya was his disciple) (325 BCE)
• Sthulabhadra (Svetambar tradition)
• Kundakunda, (Digambar tradition) (2nd century CE)
• Jaysen Acharya, (Digambar tradition) - wrote tika on Samaysaar - i.e. commentary on Samaysaar Shastra
• Amrutchandra Acharya, (Digambar tradition) - wrote Atmakhyati take on Samaysaar - i.e. commentary called Atmakhyati on Samaysaar Shastra.
• Samantabhadra, (Digambar tradition) (3rd–4th century CE)
• Siddhasena Divakara, (claimed by both) (5th century CE)
• Haribhadra,(Svetambar tradition), (700–750 CE)
• Virasena, (Digambar tradition), (790–825 CE)
• Jinasena, (Digambar tradition), preceptor of Rashtrakuta rulers, (800–880 CE).
• Nemichandra, (Digambar tradition)
• Acharya Hemachandra,(Svetambar tradition), preceptor of Kumarapala, (1089–1172 CE)
• Jagad guru Hiravijaya, (Svetambar tradition), who was invited by Akbar, the Mughal emperor
• Rajendrasuri (Svetambar tradition) (1827–1906)
• Shantisagar, (Digambar tradition) (1872–1955)
• Aryanandi, (Digambar tradition) (20th Century)

Modern Jain Acharyas include Digambara Acharya Vidyasagar and Vidyanand and Svetambara Padma Sagar Suri, Subodhsagar Suri, Yashodev Suri, and Jayantsain Suri. In the Svetambar Terapanthi sub-sect are Acharya Bhikshu, Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya and in the Sthanakvasi sub-sect Sushil Kumar have been the leading Acharyas.

An Acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the Chaturmas. Bhattarakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.