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{{Jainism}}
'''Gaccha''', alternatively spelled as '''Gachchha''', is a monastic order, along with lay followers, of the image worshipping [[Murtipujaka]] [[Svetambara]] sect of [[Jainism]]. The term is also used in the [[Digambara]] sect.

==Etymology ==
''Gaccha'' literally means "who travel together".<ref name="University2001">{{cite book|author=John E. Cort|title=Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India: Religious Values and Ideology in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZk-4HOMzsoC&pg=PA42|access-date=6 August 2014|date=22 March 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-803037-9|pages=42–44}}</ref>

==History ==
According to Jain tradition, in the first century, Vajrasensuri established four ''Kulas'', subdivisions within the Swetambara Murtipujaka Jain community, to divide the community during time of drought to disperse them. They were: Chandra, Nirvriti, Vidyadhar and Nagendra. During 1000 to 1300 CE, the Gaccha replaced these ''Kula'' as basic divisions of community.

Although some 84 separate gacchas have appeared since the 7th–8th century, only a few have survived, such as the [[Kharatara Gaccha|Kharatara]] (located mainly in Rajasthan), the [[Tapa Gaccha|Tapa]], the [[Achala Gaccha|Achala]], the Paichand or Pashwachandra, the Vimal and the [[Tristutik Gaccha]]. While the gacchas do not differ from one another in matters of doctrine, they do differ on issues of practice, in particular those practices relating to the sacred calendar and to ritual. The various gacchas also trace their descent through different lineages.

===Former 84 Gacchas===
The number of 84 Gacchas is still spoken of by the Jains, but the lists that have been hitherto published are very discordant. The following was obtained from a member of the sect as being their recognized list,--and allowing for differences of spelling, nearly every name may be recognised in those previously published by Mr. H. G. Briggs or Colonel Miles.<ref name="Project Gutenberg 004">{{cite web | title=On the Indian Sect of the Jainas by Georg Bühler (Public Domain text)| website=Project Gutenberg | date= April 2004 | url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11897?msg=welcome_stranger | access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref>

The eighty four Gacchas of the Jains:<ref>Those names marked * are found in Col. Miles's list Tr. R. A. S. vol. III, pp. 358 f. 363, 365, 370. Those marked † are included in H. G. Brigg's list,--Cities of Gujarashtra, p. 339.</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=13em|
# ? *†
# Osvâla*†
# Âṅchala*
# Jirâvalâ*†
# Khaḍatara or Kharatara
# Lonkâ or Richmati*†
# Tapâ*†
# Gaṁgeśvara*†
# Koraṇṭavâla†
# Ânandapura†
# Bharavalî
# Uḍhavîyâ*†
# Gudâvâ*†
# Dekâüpâ or Dekâwâ*†
# Bh nmâlâ†
# Mahuḍîyâ*†
# Gachhapâla*†
# Goshavâla†
# Magatragagadâ†
# Vṛihmânîyâ†
# Tâlârâ*†
# Vîkaḍîyâ*†
# Muñjhîyâ*†
# Chitroḍâ†
# Sâchorâ*†
# Jachaṇḍîyâ†
# Sîdhâlavâ*†
# Mîyâṇṇîyâ
# Âgamîyâ†
# Maladhârî*†
# Bhâvarîyâ†
# Palîvâla*†
# Nâgadîgeśvara†
# Dharmaghosha†
# Nâgapurâ*†
# Uchatavâla†
# Nâṇṇâvâla*†
# Sâḍerâ*†
# Maṇḍovarâ*†
# Śurâṇî*†
# Khaṁbhâvatî*†
# Pâëchaṁda
# Sopârîyâ*†
# Mâṇḍalîyâ*†
# Kochhîpanâ*†
# Jâgaṁna*†
# Lâparavâla*†
# Vosaraḍâ*†
# Düîvaṅdanîyâ*†
# Chitrâvâla*†
# Vegaḍâ
# Vâpaḍâ
# Vîjaharâ, Vîjharâ*†
# Kâüpurî†
# Kâchala
# Haṁdalîyâ†
# Mahukarâ†
# Putaliyâ*†
# Kaṁnarîsey†
# Revarḍi̐yâ*†
# Dhandhukâ†
# Thaṁbhanîpaṇâ*
# Paṁchîvâla†
# Pâlaṇpurâ*
# Gaṁdhârîyâ*†
# Velîyâ†
# Sâḍhapunamîyâ
# Nagarakoṭîyâ*†
# Hâsorâ*†
# Bhaṭanerâ*†
# Jaṇaharâ*†
# Jagâyana*
# Bhîmasena*†
# Takaḍîyâ†
# Kaṁboja*†
# Senatâ†
# Vagherâ*†
# Vaheḍîyâ*
# Siddhapura*†
# Ghogharî*†
# Nîgamîyâ
# Punamîyâ
# Varhaḍîyâ†
# Nâmîlâ.†
}}

===Present Gacchas===

[[Tapa Gaccha]] was founded by Jagatchandrasuri in [[Vikram Samvat]] 1285 (1229 CE). He was given the title of "Tapa" (i.e., the meditative one) by the ruler of [[Mewar]]. It was a branch of the ''Brihad Gaccha'' founded by Udyotan Suri. Vijaydevsuri (1600–1657 AD) is considered one of major leader of lineage. They reformed monastic order of Svetambara Jainism. As a result of this reform, most Svetambara Jain monks today belong to Tapa Gaccha.<ref name="University2001"/>

[[Kharatara Gaccha]] was founded by Vardhamana Suri<ref name=hvg/> (till 1031). His teacher was a temple-dwelling monk. He rejected him because of not following texts.<ref name=phil>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Overview of world religions-Jainism-Kharatara Gaccha|url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/jainism/khara.html|encyclopedia=philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/index.html|publisher=Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=hvg>{{Cite book|last= Glasenapp|first=Helmuth|title=Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|isbn=9788120813762|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WzEzXDk0v6sC&q=jainism&pg=PA383|access-date=27 November 2012|page=389|year=1999}}</ref> His pupil, Jineshvara, got honorary title 'Kharatara' (Sharp witted or Fierce) because he defeated Suracharya, leader of Chaityavasis in public debate in 1023 at Anahilvada [[Patan district|Patan]]. So the Gaccha got his title. Another tradition regards Jinadatta Suri (1075-1154) as a founder of Gaccha.<ref name=hvg/>

Other major Gacchas are Anchal Gaccha and Pashwachandra Gaccha.

[[Tristutik Gaccha]] was founded by Acharya Rajendrasuri in 1194 AD ( [[Vikram Samvat]] 1250.)

;Presiding deities
''Adhishthayak Deva'' or presiding deities are protector deities of followers of each Gaccha. They are as follows: [[Manibhadra]] Vira of Tapa Gaccha; [[Ambika (Jainism)|Ambika]] and Bhairava of Khartara Gaccha; [[Kali]]ka and [[Chakreshvari]] of Anchala Gaccha; Batuk Bhairava of Pashwachandra Gaccha.<ref name="Wiley2009">{{cite book|author=Kristi L. Wiley|title=The A to Z of Jainism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cIhCCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA138|date=17 June 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-6337-8|page=23}}</ref>

==References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Jainism Topics}}

[[Category:Śvētāmbara sects]]

Gaccha - Revision history

>Monkbot at 09:18, 11 January 2021