Devardhigani Kshamashraman

Vachanacharya
Devardhigani Kshamashraman
Vachanacharya Devardhigani Kshamashraman
	Acharya Devardhigani Kshamashraman An idol of Acharya Shri Devardhigani Kshamashraman at Vallabhi tirth.
Personal
Died	473 AD
Religion	Jainism
Sect	Śvetāmbara
Religious career
Initiation	by Acharya Lohityasuri

Devardhi or Vachanacharya Devardhigani Kshamashramana or Devavachaka was a Jain ascetic of the Śvetāmbara sect and an author of several Prakrit texts.

He was a prominent figure in Jainism in the 5th century AD. Mainly known for his contributions to the compilation and preservation of the canonical Jain scriptures, he is one of the most revered ascetics of the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism.^[1]^[2] It was under his guidance that the second council of Vallabhi was held to preserve the remaining canonical texts of Jainism.^[3]^[4] Apart from the compilation of the canonical texts, he has been revered for his spiritual teachings as well.^[5]

Early life

Devardhigani was born in the Kshatriya caste of the Kashyap gotra (family lineage). According to a legend, Mahavira had told Saudharmendra (demi-god in Jainism) in a holy assembly in Rajgruhi city,

"Harinaigmeshin transferred me during my state of embryo from the womb of Devananda to the womb of Trishala and after 1000 years of my nirvana (emencipation), he would live again by the name of Devardhigani and he would be the final authority on the Drishtivaad (the title of twelfth anga)."

His mother, Kalavati, named him Devardhi after a divine vision she had during her pregnancy.

Initiation

According to a legend, in his youth, he was interested in hunting. He had a life-threatening encounter with a lion which led to a spiritual awakening. Terrified and helpless, he vowed to devote himself to spiritual pursuits if saved. Following this incident, he sought guidance from Acharya Lohityasuri and embraced monkhood in the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism.

Contributions

His most notable contributions revolve around the preservation and compilation of Jain scriptures, especially at the second council of Vallabhi held in 453 AD.

During a period of crisis caused by a 12-year long famine and gradual loss of knowledge among ascetics, he led efforts to preserve scriptural knowledge and systematically compile texts.^[5] Under his leadership, the Jain community united to safeguard the integrity of their scriptures, preventing division and ensuring the continuity of Jain teachings.

At the beginning of the Vallabhi Council, Devardhigani sat with shramans (Jain monks) and listened to the canonical texts and memorized them all and scripted them systematically and in an organized fashion. As a result of the first council of Vallabhi and the Mathura council, there were two different set of texts, "Skandili" and "Nagarjuniya".^[6] Acharya Kalak-IV was representing the "Nagarjuniya text", whereas Devardhigani was representing the "Skandili text". Both these sets of canonical texts had variations because Acharya Skandilsuri (author of Skandili text) and Acharya Nagarjunsuri (author of Nagarjuniya text) had never met before or during the compilation and writing. Both the texts were written simultaneously as the first council of Vallabhi and the Mathura council were held simultaneously during the same period. Variations in the two texts had almost led to an imminent division of the Jain sangha itself. Devardhigani was noble enough to note the variations between both the texts. Acharya Kalak also co-operated with him. The urgency about the loss of canonical texts was recognized by him and a simultaneous writing of canonical texts was successfully accomplished under his leadership.^[7]

However, the texts compiled under his guidance were completely rejected by the Digambara sect.^[8] These texts were, however, accepted partially by monks and followers of the Yapaniya sect.^[9]

The canonical texts written and edited under his leadership at Vallabhi have been accepted as the oldest works of Jain literature, with the Ācārāṅga Sūtra being accepted as the oldest among others such as Sutrakritanga Sutra and the Uttaradhyayana Sutra.^[10]^[11]^[12]

He also composed the scripture Nandisutra which lists a Pattavali.^[13]

Legacy

One of the texts that mention him is the Pattavali, in the second section of the Kalpa Sūtra, which is both an account and a praise of all the early Śvetāmbara Jain acharyas. The penultimate verse pays homage to them in the first person, and the last verse celebrates Devardhigani. It is as follows-

Sutt’-attha-rayaṇa-bharie
khama-dama-maddava-guṇehi sampanne
Deviḍḍhi-khamāsamaṇe
Kāsava-gotte paṇivayāmi

- Kalpa Sūtra Sthavirāvalī, final verse The above text, translated into English:-

I revere the Kṣamāśramaṇa Devarddhi of the Kāśyapa gotra, who wears, as it were, the jewel of the right understanding of the Sūtras and possesses the virtues of patience, self-restraint and clemency.

- Kalpa Sūtra Sthavirāvalī, final verse (Translated by Hermann Jacobi in 1884)^[14] Devardhigani's legacy extends beyond his scholarly achievements and is visible in the aagams (canonical texts) edited and written under his guidance. His dedication to preserving Jain scriptures and fostering unity within the community laid the groundwork for future generations of scholars and practitioners as the canonical texts form the basis of major Jain texts such as the Trishashti-Shalakapurusha-Charitra. His spiritual teachings continue to inspire Jain followers worldwide. With his death in 473 AD, the tradition of passing of scriptural knowledge orally came to an end as all canonical texts had been written.

Sources

Jain, Prof. Sagarmal. "Contributions of Jain Acharyas to Jainism." Bharatiya Jnanpith.
Vijaya Ratnaprabh. "Sthaviravali."
Shah, Sudhir M. "Understanding of Jain Way of Life Exhibition."

References

^ Proceedings and Transactions of the Indian Oriental Conference. 1920.
^ Proceedings and Transactions of the All-India Oriental Conference. 1920.
^ Jain, Jagdish Chandra (2004). History and Development of Prakrit Literature. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-537-0.
^ Timm, Jeffrey R. (1 January 1992). Texts in Context: Traditional Hermeneutics in South Asia. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0796-7.
^ ^a ^b Jaina, Sāgaramala (1988). Rishibhashit, a Study: A Comparative Study of the Period and Views of Vedic, Buddhist, and Jain Thinkers Detailed in a 2400 Years Old Philosophical Work. Prakrit Bharti Academy.
^ Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.
^ Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.
^ Nagraj, Muni (1986). Āgama Aura Tripiṭaka, Eka Anuśilana: Language and Literature. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-731-1.
^ Jain Journal. Jain Bhawan. 2006.
^ Kim, David W. (18 January 2021). Sacred Sites and Sacred Stories Across Cultures: Transmission of Oral Tradition, Myth, and Religiosity. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-56522-0.
^ Mahāprajña (Ācārya) (1995). The Mirror of the Self. Jain Vishva Bharati Institute.
^ Jadeja, Ramdevsinh (7 May 2019). Art & Culture. Ramdev Jadeja.
^ Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.
^ Calcutta Review. University of Calcutta. 1924.

[1] Proceedings and Transactions of the Indian Oriental Conference. 1920.

[2] Proceedings and Transactions of the All-India Oriental Conference. 1920.

[3] Jain, Jagdish Chandra (2004). History and Development of Prakrit Literature. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-537-0.

[4] Timm, Jeffrey R. (1 January 1992). Texts in Context: Traditional Hermeneutics in South Asia. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0796-7.

[:0-5] Jaina, Sāgaramala (1988). Rishibhashit, a Study: A Comparative Study of the Period and Views of Vedic, Buddhist, and Jain Thinkers Detailed in a 2400 Years Old Philosophical Work. Prakrit Bharti Academy.

[6] Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.

[7] Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.

[8] Nagraj, Muni (1986). Āgama Aura Tripiṭaka, Eka Anuśilana: Language and Literature. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-731-1.

[9] Jain Journal. Jain Bhawan. 2006.

[10] Kim, David W. (18 January 2021). Sacred Sites and Sacred Stories Across Cultures: Transmission of Oral Tradition, Myth, and Religiosity. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-56522-0.

[11] Mahāprajña (Ācārya) (1995). The Mirror of the Self. Jain Vishva Bharati Institute.

[12] Jadeja, Ramdevsinh (7 May 2019). Art & Culture. Ramdev Jadeja.

[13] Flügel, Peter (1 February 2006). Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23552-0.

[14] Calcutta Review. University of Calcutta. 1924.

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v t e Jain monks and nuns
Pattavali Ganadhara Indrabhuti Gautama Sudharmaswami Bhadrabahu Umaswati
Digambara monks
Branches	Mula Sangha Balatkara Gana Kashtha Sangha Taran Panth Bispanthi Digambara Terapanth Yapaniya Kanji Panth
Ancient	Dharasena Kundakunda Samantabhadra Pushpadanta Bhutabali Vattakera
Medieval	Amritchandra Bhadrabahu II Gunabhadra Pujyapada Nemichandra Virasena Jinasena Jayasena Akalanka Manatunga Ravisena Kumudendu Harisena Aparajita Yativṛṣabha Prabhācandra Vidyananda Taran Svami
Modern	Acharya Shantisagar Deshbhushan Vidyasagar Guptinandi Gyansagar Aryanandi Saubhagyasagar Muni Guptisagar Kshamasagar Pragyasagar Pramansagar Pranamsagar Sudhasagar Tarun Sagar Kshullak Ganeshprasad Varni Jinendra Varni Aryika Gyanmati
Śvetāmbara ascetics
Gacchas	Upkeśa Gaccha Tapa Gaccha Kharatara Gaccha
Ancient	Keśiśramanācharya Swayamprabhasuri Ratnaprabhasuri Bhadrabahu Sthulabhadra Jinabhadra Devardhigani Siddhasena Vimalsuri
Medieval	Haribhadra Bappabhattisuri Hemachandra Aryarakshitsuri Kalyansagarsuri Yashovijaya Jinadattasuri Jinaharsha Anandghan Hiravijaya Manatunga Vidyamandansuri Udayaratna
Modern	Buddhisagarsuri Chandrashekhar Vijay Jambuvijaya Mahāprajña Mahashraman Prem Suri Vimalsagarsuri Ramchandra Suri Rajendrasuri Ratnasundarsuri Kalapurnasuri Tulsi Vijayanandsuri Nemisuri Vallabhsuri Daulatsagarsuri