Krushnarshi Gaccha Ka Sankshipta Itihas

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Krushnarshi Gaccha ka Sankshipta Itihas" by Shivprasad, based on the provided pages:

This work, "A Brief History of the Krushnarshi Gaccha," by Shivprasad, chronicles a specific lineage within the Shvetambara tradition of Jainism that existed during the pre-medieval and medieval periods.

Origins and Name: The Krushnarshi Gaccha derives its name from Krushnamuni, a disciple of Yakshamahattara and the grand-disciple of Acharya Vateshvar Kshamaśramaṇa. His disciples and their successors became known as Krushnarshi Gaccha disciples.

Prominent Acharyas: The Gaccha saw the rise of many learned Acharyas. Notably, the names Jaysinghsuri (First), Nayachandrasuri (First), Jaysinghsuri (Second), Prasannachandrasuri (First and Second), Mahendrasuri, Nayachandrasuri (Second and Third) are mentioned as prominent figures. The frequent repetition of names like Jaysinghsuri, Prasannachandrasuri, and Nayachandrasuri suggests that the monks of this Gaccha might have been Chaityavasi (those residing in temples).

Sources of Historical Information: The study of the Krushnarshi Gaccha's history relies on several key sources:

• Praiseworthy inscriptions (Prashastis) of works by the Gaccha's monks.
• Donor inscriptions of important texts copied due to the inspiration of these monks.
• Inscriptions on Jin-pratimas (idols of Tirthankaras) established by the monks, dating from V.S. 1287 to V.S. 1616.
• No specific pattavali (lineage record) directly related to this Gaccha has been found.

Early Evidence and Lineage: The earliest mention of the Krushnarshi Gaccha is found in the prashasti of Dharmopadeshamalavivaran, composed by Jaysinghsuri (disciple of the Gaccha's founder, Krushnarshi) in V.S. 915 / 859 CE. This prashasti outlines the following guru-parampara:

• Vateshvar Kshamaśramaṇa
• Tattvacharya
• Yakshamahattara
• Krushnarshi
• Jaysinghsuri (composer of Dharmopadeshamalavivaran in V.S. 915 / 859 CE)

The text also notes that Jayakirti, the author of Shiloapadeshamala, was likely a disciple of this Jaysinghsuri.

Connecting with Udyotanasuri: A significant portion of the text focuses on establishing connections between the Krushnarshi Gaccha lineage and the influential Acharya Udyotanasuri, the author of Kuvalayamalakaha (778 CE). Udyotanasuri's prashasti provides a detailed guru-parampara, which, when combined with the Krushnarshi Gaccha's lineage, reveals a shared ancestry tracing back to Vateshvar Suri. The combined lineage highlights:

• Vachak Harigupta (Guru of Toramāṇa)
• Kavi Devagupta (Author of Supurushachariya or Tri-purushachariya)
• Shiva-chandragani Mahattara (Resided in Bhinmal)
• Naga, Vrinda, Durga, Mammaṭa, Agnisharmā, and Vateshvar (Builder of a Jin-mandir in Akashavapranagara/Ambarakot/Amarakot)
• Tattvacharya
• Yakshamahattara
• Krushnarshi
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 915 / 859 CE)
• Dakshina-chihna Udyotanasuri (Author of Kuvalayamalakaha in 778 CE)

This connection is further supported by an inscription from V.S. 1084 / 1028 CE, where Acharya Purnabhadrasuri of the Tharapadragaccha mentions Vateshvar Kshamaśramaṇa as his ancestor.

Further Literary Evidence:

• A second literary source is the prashasti of Prabhanandasuri (V.S. 1390 / 1334 CE), who wrote a commentary on Haribhadra's Jambudvipa Sangrahani Prakarana. Though it doesn't name many other monks, a donor inscription from V.S. 1391 / 1335 CE for a copy of Trishtishalakapuruṣhacharitra mentions the lineage: Padmachandra Upadhyaya, Bhattaraka Prithvichandrasuri, and Prabhanandasuri.
• The third literary source is the prashasti of Jaysinghsuri, the author of Kumarapalcharitra (V.S. 1422 / 1366 CE). This prashasti provides a detailed lineage: Krushna (a great ascetic monk of the Charana (Varaṇa) Gana, Vajranagari branch), Nirgranthachudamani Acharya Jaysinghsuri (who saved the Sangha by drawing water from the earth with mantra-shakti in the desert in V.S. 1301 / 1245 CE), Prabhavakashromani Prasannachandrasuri, Nispruhashiromani Mahendrasuri (honored by Muhammad Shah), and Jaysinghsuri (author of Kumarapalcharitra).
• Jaysinghsuri also composed Nyayatatparyadipika on the Nyayasara of Bhāsarvajña.
• Nayachandrasuri (grand-disciple of Jaysinghsuri and disciple of Prasannachandrasuri) composed the Hamir Mahakavya and Rambhāmanjari Natika around V.S. 1444 / 1388 CE, remembering his pṛaguru (great-grand-guru) Jaysinghsuri.

Epigraphic Evidence (Inscriptions on Idols): The text meticulously lists numerous inscriptions found on jin-pratimas established by the monks of the Krushnarshi Gaccha, along with details of the Acharya, location, and date:

• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1287) at Vimalavasahi, Abu.
• Prasannachandrasuri (V.S. 1379) at a temple in Kolkata.
• Nayachandrasuri (disciple of Prasannachandrasuri) (V.S. 1483) at a temple in Bikaner.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1488) at a temple in Bikaner.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1498) at a temple in Jetāgram.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1498) at a temple in Jaisalmer.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1506) at a temple in Pānavāḍa.
• Prasannachandrasuri (V.S. 1506) at Balavasahi, Shatrunjaya.
• Punyarataṇasuri (V.S. 1506) at Shatrunjaya.
• Lakshmisagarsuri (V.S. 1510) at a temple in Kolkata.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1512) at a temple in Kolkata.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1521) at a temple in Kheda, Gujarat.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1524) at a temple in Bikaner.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1532) at a temple in Rampura.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1534) at Vimalavasahi, Abu.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1534) at a temple in Bikaner.
• Prasannachandrasuri (V.S. 1585) at a temple in Bhināy.
• Nayachandrasuri (V.S. 1595) at a temple in Hanumangarh, Bikaner.
• Jaysinghsuri (V.S. 1616) at Vimalavasahi, Abu.
• Dhanchandrasuri, Upadhyaya Kamalkirti, etc. (V.S. 1616) at Vimalavasahi, Abu.

Reconciling Lineages and Chronological Challenges: The text attempts to construct a consolidated lineage table by harmonizing literary and epigraphic evidence. It highlights the repeated use of names like Jaysinghsuri, Prasannachandrasuri, and Nayachandrasuri. The author addresses chronological discrepancies, such as the gap between the Jaysinghsuri involved in the desert incident (V.S. 1301) and the one mentioned in the V.S. 1379 inscription, suggesting they might be distinct individuals or that the earlier one is the pṛaguru of the latter. Similarly, the Nayachandrasuri associated with the Hamir Mahakavya (V.S. 1444) and the one from the V.S. 1483 inscription are considered potentially separate. The text also notes that information on Lakshmisagarsuri (V.S. 1524) and Jayasekharsuri (V.S. 1584) is limited outside these inscriptions.

The Krushnarshi-Tapa Branch: Epigraphic evidence also points to a Krushnarshi-Tapa branch of the Krushnarshi Gaccha, with inscriptions dating from V.S. 1450 to V.S. 1510. This branch includes monks like Punyaprabhasuri, Jayasimhasuri (Fourth), Jayasekhara, and Kamalchandrasuri. The text notes that the origin, timing, and reasons for the emergence of this branch are unknown.

Conclusion: The Krushnarshi Gaccha was established by the end of the 9th century CE. The earliest detailed record is from the 10th century CE. Following a gap of about 350 years, the Gaccha reappears in historical records, with evidence extending to the beginning of the 17th century CE. Although there's no information for about 350 years, the text posits that the Gaccha's tradition likely continued unbroken. The absence of further records after the 16th century suggests that the Gaccha might have ceased to exist or its followers merged into other Gacchas.