Lord Mahavir the 24th Tirthanker of jains, laid down certain directive principles and teachings for his succeeding followers & Gurus of Jain faith.
In the later ages certain group of jain sadhus, known as “Chaityavasies” who for their own comforts and convenience made certain choiced amendments in the original old established principles creating an ambiguity and misunderstanding among the general public. These Chaityavasies, in their daily routine started chewing betels, stay at luxurious and forbidden places where ladies and animals were disallowed as per jain principles.
Another group of jain sadhus lead by Shri Vardhamansuri ji and Jineshwersuriji the staunch & strict followers of the principles and the code of conduct, laid down by the Lord Mahavir, while their journey on foot, for the prevalence of jainism, when reached Patan, the then capital of Gujarat found the group of Chaityavasies, misrepresenting the basic principles of jainism, with their actions and behaviour.
In order to bring out the truth and reality to lime light, this new group of sadhus , requested Maharaja DurlabRaj, the then ruler of Gujarat, to get the original books & literature of jain teachings and principles lying with Chaityavasies staying there, as the wandering group of sadhus at that time had no such record with them,needed for necessary debate.
The king Durlab raj ordered the Chaityavasies to produce original books and literature on jain principles in support to justify their way of life and behaviour, against the life style of the new comer jain sadhus. On the basis of the original record minutely observed by Durlab Raj, and the discussions of the two groups, the king in his impartial judgement declared, the group of Shri Jineswersuriji as victorious awarding them with a title “Khartar Virud”. Hence the ideology of the followers of this victorious group of Shri Jineswersuri ji later on from Vikaram Samvat 1080 was popularly known as Khartar Gaccha sect, since then Khartargaccha preserves its own independent identity and traditions of Guru Puja, which is not found prevalent in other Jain swetamber Gacchas (sects).
Amongst the illustrious and eminent successors of Acharya Vardhaman Suri and Shri Jineshwer Suri ji who stood most prominent are the Four Dada Guru’s of whom the First Dada Guru was Shri Jindutta Suri, whose welknown & renowned ‘Samadhi Sthal’ called Shri Jain Shwetamber Khartarghacchacharya Jindutt Suri Dadabari stands at Pal Bisala, Ajmer which is 855 years old heritage of Jain Shwetamber Khartargaccha the fore most sect amongst the old 84 gacchas, of which only few are in existence today. |
