Acharya
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- For the pen name of D. Murdock, see Acharya S.
An acharya (आचार्य) is a prominent guru, teacher and scholar who teaches by his own example (from Sanskrit 'achara', behavior). Often head of a sampradaya, philosophical school in Hindu tradition. It is given as a title of respect, often added at the end of a person's name, as in Advaita Acharya. The Acharya Mahamandaleshwar is the first person in an Akhara.
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[edit] Famous Acharyas
Among the famous acharyas in the Hindu traditions are:
Modern Hindu Acharyas include Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj (Swaminarayan Sampradaya - NarNarayan Dev Gadi), Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj (Swaminarayan Sampradaya - LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi)
[edit] Within Jainism
In Jainism, an Acharya is a monk who is one of the five revered panch-paremeshtis, and thus worthy of worship. The word "Suri" is equivalent to Acharya.
An Acharya is the highest leader of a Jain order. He is the final authority in his monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. He is also authorized to consecrete new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by him.
Some of the famous Jain Acharyas in approximate chronological order, are:
- Gautam Ganadhara
- Jambu Swami[1]
- Bhadrabahu (undivided sangha, Chandragupta Maurya was his disciple) (325 BCE)
- Sthulabhadra (Svetambar tradition)
- Kundakunda, (Digambar tradition) (2nd century CE)
- Samantabhadra, (Digambar tradition) (3-4 rth century CE)
- Siddhasen Diwakar, (claimed by both) (5nd century CE)
- Manatunga composer of Bhaktamar Stotra, (claimed by both)
- Haribhadra,(Svetambar tradition), (700-750 CE)
- Akalanka, (Digambar tradition), (620-680 CE)
- Virasena, (Digambar tradition), (790-825 CE)
- Jinasena, (Digambar tradition), preceptor of Rashtrakuta rulers, (800-880 CE).
- Nemichandra, (Digambar tradition)
- Hemachandra,(Svetambar tradition), preceptor of Kumarapala, (1089–1172 CE)
- Hirsuri, (Svetambar tradition), who was invited by Akbar, the Mughal emperor
- Rajendrasuri (Svetambar tradition)
- Shantisagar, (Digambar tradition) (1872-1955)
Modern Jain Acharyas include Digambar Acharya Vidyasagar, Vidyanand and Svetambar Padma Sagar Suri, Subodhsagar Suri, Yashodev Suri, Jayantsain suri are from Tapa Gachchha sub-sect, in Terapanth sub-sect Acharya Tulsi & Acharya Mahaprajna, and in Sthanakvasi sub-sect Sushil Kumar have been the leading acharya.
Some sects, for example the Terapanthi Svetambaras, have a single Acharya. Others have multiple independent Acharyas.
An Acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the four moths of the rainy season (varsha-vas). The Bhattarakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, who are permitted to stay in the same place.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ The Lives of the Jain Elders, Hemachandra, Trans. RCC Fynes, Oxford World's Classics, 1998.
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