Origin and Development of Jaina Sangha

Summary

J. C. Sikdar’s article examines the early history of the Jain monastic community. It opens with a listing of the twenty‑four Tirthankaras, noting that historical information is scarce for the first twenty‑two. More evidence exists for Parshvanatha (the twenty‑third) and Mahavira (the twenty‑fourth), whom scholars like Hermann Jacobi have established as historical figures. Sikdar summarises traditional accounts of Parshvanatha’s birth in Varanasi, his renunciation at thirty, his seventy‑year ascetic career and his nirvana on Mount Sammeda. He then discusses Mahavira’s role in reorganising the Nirgrantha sect: while Parshvanatha preached a religion of non‑violence and self‑discipline, Mahavira systematised its doctrines, adding vows and disciplinary rules that formalised the sangha. The article traces how Mahavira’s teachings spread through eastern India, with references to meetings between his followers and those of Parshvanatha, suggesting continuity rather than rupture. Sikdar notes geographical itineraries, centres of propagation and the sociopolitical context that allowed the sangha to flourish. He also reflects on the evolution of monastic regulations, modes of worship and community organisation, drawing on canonical texts and later commentaries. The study thus reconstructs the early formation of the Jain sangha, showing how it developed from small ascetic groups into an organised religious institution.