Kesi was the leader of the order of monks of the twenty third Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha, who is said to have met the 'Gandhara' (Chief disciple) of the twenty fourth Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira, Gautama.[1] He was the disciple of Arya Samudradatta. His monastic lineage later came to be known as the Upkeśa Gaccha.
| Kesi (Ganadhara) | |
|---|---|
Parshvanath's Gandhara. | |
| Symbol | Tree or Jain Chihna |
| Height | 1.8m |
| Genealogy | |
| Born | 511 (historical) 534 (traditional) Sarnath (ancient in Shaptārshis dynasty) |
Monastic lineage
editThe time period between Parshvanatha and Mahavira was only 250 years, which is relatively short when compared to the periods between any two consecutive tirthankaras. According to ancient Śvetāmbara texts such as Uttaradhyayana Sutra, owing to this short period of time between both the tirthankaras, monks of Parshvanatha's lineage existed during Mahavira's time period. Keśiśramanācharya was a monk of Parshvanatha's lineage, who is said to have met Gautama Swami, the prime disciple of Mahavira.[2] Parshvanatha's monastic lineage is said to have begun with his prime disciple Arya Śubhadatta. Later, this lineage came to be known as the Upkeśa Gaccha of the Śvetāmbara tradition.[3]
Keśiśramanācharya's (the 4th head of the monastic order in Parshvanatha's monastic lineage) disciple Swayamprabhasuri went on to create the Porwal and Srimali castes by preaching Jainism and strongly opposing animal sacrifice in Bhinmal and Padmavati region of present-day Rajasthan.[4][5][6] Later, Swayamprabhasuri's disciple Ratnaprabhasuri preached Jainism in Osian and created the Oswal caste.[7][8][9][10] The monastic lineage of Upkeśa Gaccha is particularly important as it narrates the history of Jainism before Mahavira and describes the creation of three of the most prominent castes of Jain followers. It also suggests the antiquity of the Śvetāmbara tradition and that white-clad ascetics were the original followers of Jainism and of Parshvanatha, who preceded naked ascetics of the Digambara sect.[11][12]
Notes
edit- ^ Jaini 2000, p. 27.
- ^ "Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE45): Uttarâdhyayana: Twenty-Third Lecture. Kêsi and Gautama". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research, Vol-19, Issue no.-January-December.
- ^ Maharaja, Gyansundar. "Oswal Porwal Aur Shreemal Jatiyo Ka Sachitra Prachin Itihas". jainqq.org. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Cort, John E. (1 January 1998). Open Boundaries: Jain Communities and Cultures in Indian History. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-3785-8.
- ^ Jain, Chagganlal. "Jaino Ka Itihas Darshan Vyavahar Evam Vaignanik Adhar". jainqq.org. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Dodhia, Rati. "Rise and Glory History of Halari Visa Oshwals". jainqq.org. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Baya, D S. "Oswals and Other Jains of Rajasthan". jainqq.org. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Sangve, Vilas. "Jaina Community, a Social Survey". jainqq.org. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ History of Oswals. Panchshil Publications. ISBN 978-81-923730-2-7.
- ^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research, Vol-19, Issue no.-January-December.
- ^ "Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE45): Uttarâdhyayana: Twenty-Third Lecture. Kêsi and Gautama". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
References
edit- Jaini, Padmanabh S. (2000), Collected Papers On Jaina Studies (First ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1691-9
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