ACHALAMAchalgachchh
Achalgachchh, also called Anchal Gachchh and Vidhipaksha Gachchh, is a Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain tradition started by Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri. Today it is the gachchh of most Kutchi Visa Oswal and Dasa Oswal Jain families, in Kutch, in Mumbai and around the world.
How Achalgachchh began
Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri was born as Vayja Kumar in Dantani village near Mount Abu. The samaj panchang keeps his janma in Vikram Samvat 1136 (Shravan Sud 9) and his diksha in VS 1142 (Vaishakh Sud 8), when he was named Muni Vijaychandra.
He saw that monks had grown lax and that the vidhi, the correct way of doing things as written in the Agams, was no longer followed. He set out to restore it. Because of this, the group of monks around him was first called Vidhipaksha, "the side of the correct way". The samaj dates its start to VS 1169 (1113 CE); he was made acharya at Bhalej and named Aryarakshitsuri.
He lived to about 100 years and left his body by sallekhana (santhara) at Benap in today's Banaskantha district.
Why it is called Achal and Anchal
Two old stories explain the names. In one, King Siddharaj Jaysinh of Gujarat called the order Achal, "the one who does not move", because the acharya stayed firm on his word. In the other, King Kumarpal saw a shravak greet the acharya holding the end (anchal) of his shoulder cloth before his mouth instead of a muhpatti. Acharya Hemchandrasuri confirmed that this way is valid in the shastras, and the order became known as Anchal Gachchh. Both names are used today.
What is special about Achalgachchh
- The faith is the same as all Shwetambar Jains: ahimsa, anekantvad, aparigraha and the 24 Tirthankars.
- Mahakali Mata is the adhishthayika devi (protecting goddess) of Achalgachchh. Tradition says she was moved by Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri's tapasya and promised to protect his order and its shravaks. The samaj keeps a Mahakali Mata aradhana day (Aaso Sud 1 (Thu, 30 Sep 2027)).
- Achalgachchh has its own line of acharyas (pattavali) and its own panchang. When a tithi is skipped (kshay) or doubled (vruddhi), Achalgachchh follows its own rule, so a parva day can fall on a different date than in another gachchh. That is why the samaj uses an Achalgachchh panchang.
- A few ritual details, like guru-vandan with the anchal, follow the gachchh's own tradition.
Achalgachchh in Kutch and Mumbai
Achalgachchh grew strongest among the Kutchi Visa Oswal and Dasa Oswal Jains. Yugpradhan Dadashri Kalyansagarsuri spent his last chaturmas in Bhuj, where he passed away in 1661. The Abdasa panchtirthi, Bhadreshwar and the 72 Jinalaya tirth near Mandvi are all in Kutch. When Kutchi families moved to Mumbai, they built Achalgachchh sanghs in Mulund, Ghatkopar, Matunga and many other areas, and these sanghs are still the centre of samaj life.
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Questions people ask
What is Achalgachchh?
Achalgachchh (Anchal Gachchh, Vidhipaksha) is a Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain gachchh started by Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri in the 12th century of the Vikram era. Most Kutchi Visa Oswal and Dasa Oswal Jains belong to it.
Who founded Achalgachchh?
Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri, born as Vayja Kumar in Dantani near Mount Abu. The samaj dates the start of the gachchh to VS 1169 (1113 CE).
Who is the current Achalgachchhadhipati?
Acharya Kalaprabhsagarsuri. He received the Achalgachchhadhipati pad in VS 2077, after the kaldharm of Acharya Gunodaysagarsuri.
Who is the adhishthayika devi of Achalgachchh?
Mahakali Mata. The samaj also reveres Chakreshwari Devi.
Why is it called Anchal Gachchh?
Because a shravak did guru-vandan with the anchal (end of the shoulder cloth) instead of a muhpatti, and Acharya Hemchandrasuri confirmed this was valid.
ACHALAM
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Sources: Achal Gaccha (Wikipedia) · Aryarakshitsuri (Wikipedia) · Kalyansagarsuri (Wikipedia) · Achalgach, CVO DJM · Palitana temples (Wikipedia) · Girnar Jain temples (Wikipedia) · Bhadreshwar Jain Temple (Wikipedia) · Kothara and Naliya tirth, jainsite.com. Something not right? The samaj office can write to us at [email protected].