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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s5: The Schisms

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s5

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English

The Schisms

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The following Schisms are mentioned in the Jain Church:—
(1) Jamāli, who was Mahāvīra's sister's son and also his son-in-law, was the first man to start the schism in Sāvatthī during the life time of Mahāvīra, after fourteen years of his attaining omniscience. Jamāli was a prince of Khattiyakuṇḍaggāma, who renounced the world and became a follower of Mahāvīra. Difference of opinion arose between him and his teacher over a slight matter whereupon Jamāli declared that before the accomplishment of the act its results begin bearing fruits; the followers of Jamāli were known as bahurayas. Piyadaisanā, the daughter of Mahāvīra, first joined the schismatic order of her husband, but later on, she was enlightened and joined the order of Mahāvīra.

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(2) The second schism was started by Tissagutta at Usabhapura (Rāyagaha), during Mahāvīra’s life time after sixteen years of his attaining kevalahood Tissagutta was a disciple of ācārya Vasu, who was well-versed in the fourteen Pūrvas His followers were called jīvapaesiyas; they controverted the view of Mahāvīra that the soul is permeated in all the constituent atoms of the body

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(3) The third schism was led by Āṣādha at Seyaviyā after 214 years of Mahāvīra’s attaining salvation His followers were called avattiyas and they held that there is no difference between gods, saints, kings and other beings

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(4) The fourth schism was started by Assamitta in Mihilā, after 220 years of Mahāvīra’s attaining salvation His followers were called samuccheiyas and they held that since the end of all life will come some day the effects of good or bad deeds are immaterial.

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(5) The fifth schism was started by Ganga at Ullukātīra after 228 years of Mahāvīra’s attaining salvation His followers were called dokiriyas and they held that the two opposite feelings such as cold and warmth could be experienced at the same time

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(6) The sixth schism arose in Antarañjiyā and was started by Saḍūlaya otherwise known as Rohagutta after 544 years of Mahāvīra’s attaining salvation Saḍūlaya is said to have been the author of the Vaiseṣika sūtras. His followers were called terāsiyas and they held that between the life (jīva) and non-life (ajīva) there is a third state ‘no-jīva.’ According to the Kalpasūtra,⁷² the terāsiyas were founded by a disciple of Ajja Mahāgiri.

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⁷² 8, p 228 a.

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(7) The seventh schism was led by Goṭṭhamalula at Dasapura after 584 years of Mahāvīra’s attaining salvation His followers were called abaddhiyas and according to them the jīva is not bound by Karman.⁷³

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⁷³ Thā 587, Āva. Nir 779 ff, also Bhā 125 ff, Āva Cū. p 416 ff, Uttarā. Ti 3, p. 68 a-75, Ovā. Sū. 41, p 197, also Bhag. 9 33, Sama Sū. 22, Bhag. 1. I, p. 41 f (Bechardas ed).

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