Acharyas played a pivotal role in the spread and growth of Jainism and hence the
tribute to them in Jains’ daily prayers – the Navkar mantra(பஞ்ச மந்திரம்)
as in the title of the post.
Originally all the teachings and the knowledge gleaned from
the Thirthankars (including the latest and the 24th – Baghavan Mahavir) were passed
down orally from one genration to another through the acharyas (the disciples of
the Thirthankars) over a period of more than thousand years.
Around 500 BC, after Lord Mahavir’s nirvana, Jain acharyas
realized that it was very inefficient, to rely on the entire Jain literature to
be memorized. In several years, significant knowledge was already lost and the
rest was polluted with modifications and errors.
Thus, they decided to document the Jain literature as known
to them. In this time period two major sects, namely Digambar and Swetambar,
were already in existence. These set of documented religious works form the
basis for our understanding of Jainism today. In this post
we list the first 25 Acharyas and their religious works.
S.No |
Period |
Name |
Religious
|
|
1 |
323 BC |
Kalyana Muni |
கல்யாண் |
|
2 |
200 BC |
ஆசார்யர் |
Pejje deje pakudam |
|
3 |
100 AD |
Acharya Kund Kunda |
ஆசார்யர் |
Pravachansar Panchastikaya Parasanuvekka |
4 |
200 AD |
Yathi Virashabhar |
ஆசார்யர் |
Choorani Suthiram |
5 |
200 AD |
Acharya Ucharana |
ஆசாரியர் |
Surani Suthiram |
6 |
500 / 600 AD |
Acharya Vappa Deva |
ஆசாரியர் |
Shatkanda Agamam Kashaya Pakudam Urai |
7 |
600 AD |
Aharaya Vattakar |
ஆசார்ய |
Trivarnachar |
8 |
100 AD |
Acharya Sivaryaryar |
அசாரியார் |
|
9 |
200 AD |
Acharya |
ஆசாரியர் |
· · |
10 |
300 AD |
Swami Kumarar |
ஸ்வாமி |
|
11 |
120 AD |
ஸ்வாமி |
Jinasuthisadakam Birugath Suyambhu Sosthiram Yukthiyanu Sasanam Ratna-Karanda-Shravak-Achar Aptamimamsa |
|
12 |
600 AD |
ஆச்சாரியர் |
||
13 |
600 AD |
ஆசாரியர் |
Dasabakthi Janmabhisekam Samathi Thanthiram Ishtopathesam Jainendra Illakanam Sidhipriya Thothiram Thathavarviruthi (Sarvarartha |
|
14 |
600 AD |
Acharya Bhatthra Kesari |
ஆசாரியர் |
Thirilakshna katharthan |
15 |
600 AD |
Acharya Joyinthu |
ஆசாரியர் |
|
16 |
400 AD |
ஆசாரியர் |
||
17 |
700 AD |
Acharya Manathunga |
ஆசாரியர் |
|
18 |
700 AD |
Acharya Ravisena |
ஆசாரியார் |
|
19 |
700 AD |
Acharya Jada Simhananthi |
ஆசாரியார் |
|
20 |
700 AD |
Acharya Akalankar |
ஆசாரியார் |
Thrukkam And Devakuru Ilakkiya Sthrreyam Niyaya Sithi Swirthi |
21 |
900 AD |
Achrya Veerasena |
ஆசாரியார் |
Kashaya Pakudam Urai Shatkanda Agam 72000 Seyul Urai Surya-Prajnapti Chandra-Prajnapti |
22 |
783 AD |
ஆசாரியார் |
||
23 |
900 AD |
Jinasenar II |
ஆசாரியார் |
|
24 |
800 / 900 AD |
Achrya Vathba Simman (Odaya Devar) |
ஆசாரியார் |
Syathvatha Siddhi |
25 |
900 AD |
Acharya Gundabathra (Thiru narun Kundrathnar) |
ஆசாரியார் |
Utthira Puranam Athi Puranam |
We would like to thank the following websites to which we
have linked above in abundance (and have the original /translated text of these
religious works).