Tapa Gachchha

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

It was founded by Acharya Jagat Chandra Suri in Vikram Samvat 1285 (1229 A.D.). 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.

Shri Vijayananda suri 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.

Reforms

In Samvat 1942(1886 A.D.), Vijayananda Suri also known as Shri Atmaramji (name in Sthanakvasi order) of this order was given the title of Acharya at Palitana, Gujarat after the a gap of several centuries.Today near 35% of monks and nuns are dissciple followers of Atmaramji Maharaja.

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.

68th Jain acharya of Svetambara Tristutik order Acharya Rajendrasuri reformed and simplified the Jain yati/monk institution. He opposed worship of other gods and goddesses in spite of Jain Tirthankars.

Differences among subsects

All the Tapa Gachchha sects and subsects are followers and disciples of Acharya Vijay Dev suri M.S. (1600-1657 A.D.) It is remarkable here that Acharya Vijay Dev suri was worshiped end number of time with Navangi puja which is still exists with Acharya Prem suri, and Acharya Shantichandra suri sects (Samudaya).

In all sub sects of Tapa gachchha there are a few differences as below:

*'Navangi Puja of monk'(worship).
*Tithi (calendar).
*Palitana Chaturmas yatra.
*'Santikaram' Chanting in Chaturdasi.

Acharya Vijay Dev suri (1600-1657) was above all this controversy and never chanting Santikaram after Chaumasi pratikraman, always worshiped by Navangi Puja by followers and plenty of examples in his disciples who has established pratishtha on palitana hills in so called chaturmas times.

In the Tapa Gachchha now there are total 8000 monks and nuns with nearly 24 different sects belongs to Tapa Gachchha. Tapa Gachchha is having different 24 branches in different groups or subsects. The biggest group is Achary Prem suri, where nearly 2200 monks and nuns are with highest number. One is followed by Acharya Ramchandra Suri who was established by Acharya shri Prem Suriji himself (1350 monks and nuns), another is Acharya shri BhuvanBhanu Suri ji (850 monks and nuns) who disassociated himself from Prem Suri group's original way of rites and rituals. Other big group is "Sager Samuday" and "Acharya NemiSuri Samudaya" which are counted as big group in Tapa Gachchha. Mainly Prem Suri sect has more than 50% of Jain monks.

Acharya Ramchandra Suri group (first disciple of Acharya Premsuri ji) is biggest having more than 1350 monks and nuns,Acharya Shri Hembhushan Suri was Head (Gachchha Nayak) of this Jain monk's group who passed away last month.

Acharya shri Bhuvan Bhanu suri group (another prominent disciple of Acharya Premsuri ji) is also another group in Tapaa Gachchha having 826 monk and nuns. Currently Acharya Shri Jayghosh Suri ji is Head (Gachchha Nayak) in this group. It is important that Shri Jaygosh suri ji has highest number of monks in any singal samudaya that is 435 monks.

ect of Tapa Gachchha

*Shri Vijay Prem-Ramchandra Suri (total monks and nuns 1458)
*Shri Vijay Prem-Bhuvan Bhanu suri (total monks and nuns 822)
*Shri Anandsagar suri (Sagarji) (total monks and nuns 998)
*Shri Vijay Nemi suri (Shasan Samrat) (total monks and nuns 521)
*Shri Vijay Kanak suri (vagad)(total monks and nuns 551)
*Shri Vijay Niti Suri total (monks and nuns 415)
*Shri Vijay Siddhi suri (Bapji M)(total monks and nuns 406)
*Shri VIjay Dharma Vijayji (Dahela vala) (total monks and nuns 312)
*Shri Vijay Bhakti Suri total (monks and nuns 293)
*Shri Vijay Labdhi Suri total (monks and nuns 302)
*Shri Vijay Vallabh Suri (total monks and nuns 181)
*Shri Vijay Keshar Suri (total monks and nuns 231)
*Shri Vijay Dharma Suri (total monks and nuns 235)
*Shri Vijay Himachal Suri (total monks and nuns 60)
*Shri Buddhi Sagar Suri (total monks and nuns 135)
*Shri Vijay Shantichandra Suri Ist (total monks and nuns 190) be tithi
*Shri Vijay Shantichandta Suri 2nd (total monks and nuns 183)
*Shri Mohanlalaji (total monks and nuns 52)
*Shri Vijay Amrat Suri (total monks and nuns 21)
*Shri Vimal Gachchha (total monks and nuns 44)
*Shri Tristutika Gachchha 1st(Acharya Shri Jayantsain suri) (total monks and nuns 141)
*Shri Tristutika Gachchha 2nd (Acharya shri Hemendra suri) (total monks and nuns 89)
*Shri Tristutika Gachchha 3rd (Acharya Shri Labdhichandra Suri) (total monks and nuns ?)
*Shri Tristutika Gachchha 4th(Muni Jayanandvijay) (total monks and nuns ?)

References

* Jainism in Rajasthan By Kailash Chand Jain, 1963, Pub. Gulabchand Hirachand Doshi.
* [http://www.jainuniversity.org/PDFs/eng-lib/1.7.pdf The religious leaders of Jains and their ladder or leadership]
* "Samagra Jain Chaturmaas Suchi-2006" By Babulal Jain, Pub. Ujjawal Prakashan Kandivali, Mumbai.

ee also

Tristutik