Jain Shwetambar Gaccho Ka Sankshipta Itihas Part 02

This document is the second part of a book titled "Jain Shwetambar Gaccho ka Sankshipta Itihas" (A Concise History of Jain Shwetambar Sects) by Dr. Shivprasad, published by Omkarsuri Gyanmandir, Surat. This particular volume (Part 2) focuses on the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha.

Here's a summary of the key points covered in the provided pages:

1. Origin and Identification:

• The Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha is identified as a branch that emerged from the Tapa Gaccha.
• According to the gaccha's own tradition, its origins trace back to Acharya Vadideva Suri of the Brihad Gaccha, who initiated 24 disciples simultaneously, including Padmaprabh Suri.
• Padmaprabh Suri received the epithet 'Nagoritapa' from a ruler of Nagaur due to his severe penance there. His lineage then became known as the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha.
• It is mentioned that the Parshwachandra Gaccha later emerged from this lineage in the 16th century.

2. Historical Timeline and Evidence:

• Although the gaccha claims an origin in 1174 VS / 1118 CE from the Brihad Gaccha, the available literary and epigraphic evidence does not predate the 16th-17th centuries VS.
• The earliest epigraphic evidence cited is an inscription from 1551 VS / 1495 CE on a statue of Shitalnath, mentioning the Naguri Tapa Gaccha and Somratnasuri.
• Another inscription from 1596 VS on a stone tablet in the Adinath Jinalaya at Nagaur mentions Rajaratnasuri and his disciple Ratnakirtisuri.
• Further details about the lineage are found on the idol of Adinath at the same Jinalaya, naming Somratnasuri, Rajratnasuri, and Ratnakirtisuri, confirming Somratnasuri as the grand-guru and Rajratnasuri as the guru of Ratnakirtisuri.
• The text notes that the Somratnasuri mentioned in the 1551 VS inscription can be considered the same person as the preceptor of Ratnakirtisuri due to contemporaneity and name similarity.
• The latest epigraphic evidence mentioned is from 1667 VS, listing four monastic figures from the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha: Chandrakirtisuri I, Somkirti, Devkirti, and Amar(kirti).
• The relationship between Ratnakirtisuri (from 1596 VS) and Chandrakirtisuri (from 1667 VS) is not clarified by the inscriptions.

3. Literary Evidence:

• The earliest literary evidence is the inscription of the Sarasvata Vyakarana Deepika composed by Acharya Chandrakirtisuri in 1623 VS / 1567 CE. This inscription provides a detailed lineage, tracing back to Vadideva Suri.
• Key figures in this lineage include: Vadideva Suri, Padmaprabh Suri, Prasannachandra Suri, Gunasamudra Suri, Jayashekhar Suri, Vajrasen Suri, Tilak Suri, Ratnashekhar Suri, Purnachandra Suri, Prem Hans Suri, Ratnasagar Suri, Hemasamudra Suri, Hemratna Suri, and Somratna Suri.
• Chandrakirtisuri, the author of Sarasvata Vyakarana Deepika, had Rajratnasuri as his guru and Somratnasuri as his grand-guru.
• The text highlights that Chandrakirtisuri's disciple Harshkirti was also a prolific writer. His works include Sarasvata Vyakarana Dhatu Path (1663 VS / 1607 CE), Yogachintamani (also known as Vaidyak Saroddhar), and others.
• Bhavchandra, the author of a commentary on Gopalabhatta's Sarasvata Vyakarana, was also from the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha. His lineage includes Chandrakirtisuri, Padmachandra, and Bhavachandra.
• The text also mentions Harshkirti's disciple Shivraj, who copied the Brihad Shanti Stava in 1676 VS.
• A colophon from 1657 VS of the Sirivalachariya (Shripal Charitra) mentions Chandrakirtisuri, Manakirti, and Amarkirti, with Munidharma as a scribe.

4. Interconnection with Tapa Gaccha:

• The literary evidence from Chandrakirtisuri's Sarasvata Vyakarana Deepika shows a lineage that aligns with Tapa Gaccha epigraphic evidence for figures like Hemratnasuri (1533 VS), Hemsamudra Suri (1517-28 VS), and Hemhansa Suri (1453-1513 VS). This suggests a strong connection or overlap with the Tapa Gaccha lineage, particularly the Hem lineage.

5. The Mystery of Early Lineage:

• A significant challenge arises because the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha is not mentioned before 1551 VS. This leaves the lineage from Hemratnasuri and earlier (Hemhansa Suri, Hemsamudra Suri, Purnachandra Suri, etc.) as mentioned in Chandrakirtisuri's lineage connected to an unknown gaccha before the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha.

6. Further Literary Connections:

• The text delves into the gurus of Purnachandra Suri, naming Ratnashekhar Suri and Hemtilak Suri. Ratnashekhar Suri's works include Sirivalachariya (1428 VS / 1372 CE).
• It notes the unusual absence of gaccha affiliation in the inscriptions of Harisena and Ratnashekhar Suri, contrasting with later disciples like Chandrakirtisuri who explicitly identify with the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha and trace their lineage to Vadideva Suri.
• The text highlights a "puzzle of history" regarding the lack of gaccha mention by earlier figures in the lineage and the later explicit claims of lineage from the Brihad Gaccha.

In essence, the provided pages offer a detailed historical account of the Nagpuriya Tapa Gaccha, focusing on its origins, the available epigraphic and literary evidence, and its place within the broader Jain Shwetambar tradition, while also acknowledging the historical ambiguities and gaps in the early records.