Khartargachha Millennium

Khartargachha is one of the most prominent and oldest living sect of Jain Shwetamber Sangh. Around 2,600 year ago, Lord Mahavir, Gautam Swami and Sudharma Swami succeeded him in due couse. Lord Mahavir had prescribed strict rule based regime to be followed by jain Sandhu-Sadhvis and their followers.

With influx of time, distortions creeped into lives of some Sadhus. They had started living in temples (Chaitya) and hence were also known as ‘Chaityavasi’. To lead an easy life, they had gradually discarded the strict regime of monk life prescribed by Lord Mahavir, who scrupulously followed his path and regime.

Khartargachha is countinuously moving forward in its glorious journey. In the long and glorious history of khartargachha spanning these 1000 years, many famous Acharyas, Sadhu-Sadhvis, scholars, litterateurs, painters, sculptors and philanthropists have greatly enriched our nation and it’s socio-cultural milieu by different means and methods. Acharyas Jin Dutt Suri, Akbar Pratibodhak Acharya Manidari, Acharya Manidari Jin Chandra Suri, Acharya Shri Jin Kaushal Suri, Akbar Pratibodhak Acharya Shri Jin Chandra Suri, Mahopadhyaya Samay Sundarji, Acharya Kshma Kalyan Sugar Suri etc. were famous Scholar-Acharyas, who authored many important granths and propounded original thinking on complex spiritual issues. This resulted greater and deeper understanding of concept and application of various principles. More than 400 years ago, Mahopadhyaya Samay Sunder was a scholar par excellence, who defined and described a single sentence of 8 words into 8,00,00 ways. In the lineage of these illustrious Khartargachha Acharyas and Sadhus, many of their disciples have propagated and spread the principles and teachings of Jain Dharma through nook and corner of the country. Four most famous Acharyas namely Acharya Abhay Dev Suri, Acharya Jin Dutt Suri, Acharya Manidari Jin Chandra Suri, were out of reverence known as ‘Dada Gurudev’ and temples dedicated to them are known as ‘Dadabari’. There are around 800-900 Dadabaris situated in every part of the country, where thousands of faithfuls and followers visit to pay obeisance to them. Khartargachha Acharyas visited many kings and rulers to show them the right path and influenced them and inspired them to declare prohibition of slaughter of animals on several occasions. Thus, lives of many precious animals were saved, which is a living testimonial of adherence to principles of Ahimsa.