Tapa Gachchha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tapa Gachchha is the largest monstic order (gachchha) of the Svetambara Jains.

It was founded by Jagat Chandra Suri in samvat 1285. He was given the title of "Tapa" (i.e. the meditative one) by the ruler of Mewar.

It was a branch of the Brihad gachchha founded by Udyotan Suri.

in Samvat 1943, Vijayananda Suri of this order was given the title of Acharya at Patan, Gujarat after the a gap of several centuries. He was responsible for reviving the wandering orders among the Svetambara monks. As a result of this reform, most Svetambara Jain monks today belong to the Tapa gachchha.

[edit] References

• Jainism in Rajasthan By Kailash Chand Jain, 1963, Pub. Gulabchand Hirachand Doshi.
• The religious leaders of Jains and their ladder or leadership