ACHALAMGranths and manuscripts
Achalgachchh acharyas wrote granths, stavans and poems in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Gujarati. Like all Jains, the samaj kept its shastras alive by copying them by hand and keeping them safe in gyan bhandars.
Granths by Achalgachchh acharyas
- Yugpradhan Dadashri Kalyansagarsuri: the Jain Bhagavad Gita, Parshwanath Ashtottar Shatnaam, Ling Nirnay, Mishra Ling Kosh with its commentary, Shantinath Charitra, Surpriya Charitra, Shree Jin Stotra, many stavans, stotras and ashtaks, and the Gujarati Agaddatt Ras.
- Mahendrasinhsuri: the Shatpadi, a work on a hundred questions of conduct and practice.
- Dadaguru Merutungsuri: the Jain Meghaduta, a poem about Bhagwan Neminath and Rajimati.
- Arya Kalyan Gautam Smruti Granth: a history of the gachchh with its pattavali, from Bhagwan Mahavir through Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri to the present, prepared from about five years of research by Acharya Gunsagarsuri and Muni Kalaprabhsagar.
How Jain manuscripts were made
Before printing, every shastra was a handwritten manuscript (hastaprat). The oldest were written on dried palm leaves (tadpatra), later ones on handmade paper, often with gold and colour paintings. The illustrated Kalpasutra read in Paryushan is the best-known example. Copying a shastra, or paying for it to be copied, was counted as great punya.
The manuscripts were kept in gyan bhandars, libraries looked after by the sangh. The bhandars of Patan, Khambhat and Jaisalmer are among the oldest in India and saved many works that exist nowhere else.
Gyan Pancham
On Gyan Pancham, Jains honour knowledge: books and manuscripts are cleaned, set out and worshipped, and many keep a fast. In the Achalgachchh panchang, Saubhagya Gyan Pancham is Kartak Sud 5 (Sat, 14 Nov 2026), and Gyan Panchmi, Vasant Panchmi is Maha Sud 5 (Wed, 10 Feb 2027).
If your family has old manuscripts
Do not sell or throw away old handwritten pothis, even if they look damaged. Keep them dry and wrapped in cloth, and tell your sangh or the samaj office, so they can be looked after in a gyan bhandar.
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Questions people ask
Which granths did Kalyansagarsuri write?
Among others the Jain Bhagavad Gita, Parshwanath Ashtottar Shatnaam, Ling Nirnay, Mishra Ling Kosh, Shantinath Charitra, Surpriya Charitra and many stavans and stotras.
What is a gyan bhandar?
A library of Jain manuscripts looked after by the sangh. The bhandars of Patan, Khambhat and Jaisalmer are among the oldest.
When is Gyan Pancham?
Saubhagya Gyan Pancham is on Kartak Sud 5. The ACHALAM panchang shows the exact date every year.
ACHALAM
All tithis, pachchakhan times and parva reminders are in the free ACHALAM app.
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].