Sangha (Jainism)

InJainism,Sangha(Community of the pious) is a term used to refer to the fourfold community ofMuni(male ascetics),Aryika/Sadhvi(female ascetics),Śrāvaka(laymen), andŚrāvikā(laywomen).

The word is also used in various other ways.^[1]

Meaning

Champat Rai Jain,an influential 20th century Jain writer described thesanghaas "those who practise thedharma","the community of the saints "," the community of the pious "and as" the community of the faithful ".^[2]^[3]

Significance

According to theJain texts,thesanghawill be maintained till the very end of the present strife-ridden spoke of time (pancham kaal). With the end of thesangha,thedharma(religion) will also end.^[4]

The continuity of thesangha(community of the faithful) will be maintained right up to its very end. There will be at least one saint, one nun, one householder, and one pious female follower of the Lord Jinendra in the world. When only three moments will be left in the runningkāla,rāja(kingship),agni(fire) anddharma(religion) will be destroyed, one after the other, in the order mentioned! The last king, who will be calledKalki,will snatch away the food from the hand of the last Saint, and will be destroyed by thedevasfor his extreme impiety. The Saint and the Nun will performsallekhanadeath, along with the householder and the pious lay lady. Fire will disappear instantly, anddharmawill cease to exist in the next moment!.
— Champat Rai Jain^[4]

Other Uses

The wordsanghahas been used to refer to various lineages in the Digambara sect of Jainism.^{[citation needed]}

History

JainSanghawas established inMaduraiin 5th century CE.^[5]

References

Citations

^Wiley, Kristi L (17 June 2009).The a to Z of Jainism.Scarecrow Press. p. 190.ISBN 9780810863378.Archivedfrom the original on 2 July 2023.Retrieved7 June2016.
^Champat Rai Jain 1929,p. 137, 165.
^Jain, Champat Rai(1926),Sannyasa Dharma,p. 187,This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
^^a ^bChampat Rai Jain 1929,p. 165-166.
^Upinder Singh 2016,p. 26.

Sources

Jain, Champat Rai(1929),Risabha Deva - The Founder of Jainism,Allahabad:The Indian Press Limited,This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Singh, Upinder(2016),A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century,Pearson Education,ISBN 978-93-325-6996-6

[1] Wiley, Kristi L (17 June 2009).The a to Z of Jainism.Scarecrow Press. p. 190.ISBN 9780810863378.Archivedfrom the original on 2 July 2023.Retrieved7 June2016.

[FOOTNOTEChampat_Rai_Jain1929137,_165-2] Champat Rai Jain 1929,p. 137, 165.

[3] Jain, Champat Rai(1926),Sannyasa Dharma,p. 187,This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.

[FOOTNOTEChampat_Rai_Jain1929165-166-4] Champat Rai Jain 1929,p. 165-166.

[FOOTNOTEUpinder_Singh201626-5] Upinder Singh 2016,p. 26.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]