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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
[[Image:Shravanabelagola lake.JPG|thumb|[[Shravanabelagola]] is the seat of the bhaṭṭārakas of the Deshiya Gana of the [[Mula Sangh]]]]
{{Jainism}}
A '''Bhaṭṭāraka''' ({{langx|pka|भट्टारक}}; {{lit|holy one}}) heads traditional [[Digambara]] [[Jainism|Jain]] institutions. He is responsible for training scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing endowments, presiding over installation ceremonies and running Jain institutions.<ref>Vilas Adinath Sangave, Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers,  2001, Popular Prakashan. p. 133-143</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:BhatarakaNayanadiIMG 0419.jpg|thumb|Bhattaraka Nayanadi, Khajuraho sculpture, 11th ent.,  [[Jain temples of Khajuraho|Jain Museum]]]]
[[File:Patnaganj.bhattarak.mahendrakirti.jpg|thumb|Bhattarak Mahendrakirti of Rehli giving pravachan (upper right), mural Patnaganj-Rehli, 18th century]]
The term ''bhaṭṭāraka'' was used for [[Virasena]], [[Bhadrabahu]] and other notables.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=dXVOXRrYQiQC&dq=Acharyas+Dharsena+Bhattaraka&pg=PA492  Agama Aura Tripitaka: Eka Anusilana Volume 2, Nagraj (Muni.),  Concept Publishing Company, 1986, p. 492]</ref> It has also been used for the Tirthankaras.<ref>Monolithic Jinas: The Iconography Of The Jain Temples Of Ellora, José Pereira, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 2001,  p. 91</ref> It was in the past used for leaders of religious orders in [[Shaivism]], [[Buddhism]] and other groups, but currently it is applied to heads of [[Digambar]]a Jain institutions. Unlike a [[Digambara monk]], a bhaṭṭāraka wears an orange robe, stays in a single place and is involved in management of assets of the institution.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Several of the Bhattarak seats were termed "Vidyasthana" i.e. centers of learning. These include Jaipur, Delhi, Gwalior, Ajmer, Nagaur, Rampur-Bhanpura, Karanaja, Surat, Kolhapur, Jinakanchi, Penukonda, Malkhed, Vijayanagara, Varanga and Hummacha.<ref>Jainism In South India And Some Jaina Epigraphs
by P. B. Desai, p. 195-196</ref>

The role of a bhaṭṭāraka is described by Brahm Gyansagar, a disciple of Bhaṭṭāraka Shribhushana of [[Kashtha Sangh]] Nanditat Gaccha in seventeenth century of the Vikram era, while describing the six components of the Jain Sangha:<ref>{{cite journal | title=Jain sangh ke chhah anga | author=Joharapurkar, Vidyadhar Pasusa | journal=Anekānta |date=September 1964}}</ref>
<blockquote>{{langx|hi|भट्टारक सोहि जाण भ्रष्टाचर निवारे, धर्म प्रकाशे दोइ भविक जीव बहु तारे<br>
सकल शस्त्र संपूर्ण सूरिमंत्र आराधे, करे गच्छ उद्धार स्वात्मकार्य बहु साधे<br>
सौम्यमूर्ति शोभाकरण क्षमाधरण गंभीरमति, भट्टारक सोहि जाणिये कहत ज्ञानसागर यति ||९||}}<br><br>''Bhaṭṭāraka sōhi jāṇa bhraṣṭācara nivārē, dharma prakāśē dōi bhavika jīva bahu tārē| Sakala śastra sampūrṇa sūrimantra ārādhē, karē gaccha uddhāra svātmakārya bahu sādhē| Saumyamūrti śōbhākaraṇa kṣamādharaṇa gambhīramati, bhaṭṭāraka sōhi jāṇiyē kahata jñānasāgara yati.''<br><br>"Thus a bhaṭṭāraka illuminates both dharmas, is an expert in all scriptures, has the authority to recite the suri-mantra (to consecrate an image). He is also responsible for preserving the order. He is the head of the six limbs of the sangha: shravaka, shravika, pandita (brahma), muni (maha vrati), aryika and Bhattaraka."</blockquote>

Many of the bhattarakas were prolific authors.<ref>साहित्यिक उन्नयन में भट्टारकों का अवदान, PC Jain, Parshvanath Vidyapith Swarna Jayanti Granth, 1994, p. 214-218</ref> They wrote hundreds of original books and commentaries on various subjects, in Sanskrit and in local languages. All existing Jain manuscripts available today owe their preservation to the libraries maintained by Bhattarakas. They trained and supported pandits. Until modern times, all pratishthas were supervised by them or pandits (such as [[Raighu]])designated by them.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==Present Bhattaraka Seats==
Once bhaṭṭārakas were common all over India,<ref>Vidaydhar Johrapurkar, Bhaṭṭāraka Sampradaya, Solapur, 1958</ref> but currently, they are present only in South India, with the exception of a new Bhattaraka seat at [[Hastinapur]]. Famous bhaṭṭāraka seats include:

===Karnataka===
* [[Shravanabelagola]], seat of the Desiya Gana, Pustaka Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named Charukirti. This is where the ''Siddhanta Grantha''s were once preserved in the library, before they were moved to Mudabidri.
* [[Moodabidri]], also a very important great holy  seat of the Desiya Gana, Pustaka Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named [[Bhattarak  swasthi shree Charukeerthi panditacharya varya  Moodabidri|Charukirti]]. The original manuscripts of the ''Siddhanta Grantha''s like Dhavala are preserved here. The present swamiji is very much experienced most popular India and abroad scholar, master's degree, doctorate holder in various subjects. On 29 August 1999 swamiji took charge of holy bhattarak seat; it is independent holy ancient jain digamber acharya seat.
* [[Humbaj]], seat of [[Balatkara Gana]], Sarasvati Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named [[Devendrakirti]]. This is the original seat of the order which once had branches all north India from Idar in Gujarat to [[Shikharji]] in Jharkhand
* [[Narasimharajapura]]
* [[Karkala]]
* [[Kanakagiri Jain Shri kshetra|Kanakagiri Jain Matha]]
* [[Amminabhavi#Jain Matha|Amminabhavi]]
* [[Kambadahalli]]
* [[Sonda Jain Math]]

===Maharashtra===
* Nandani, seat of the Sena Gana, Pushakara Order. The bhaṭṭāraka is named [[Jinasena]]. [[Acharya Shantisagar]] belonged to this tradition.
*[[Kumbhoj]]
*[[Kolhapur]]

===Tamil Nadu===
[[Image:Bhattaraka Laxmisena, Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.jpeg|thumb|300px|[[Bhattaraka Laxmisena]] of the [[Jinakanchi Jain Math]]]]
* [[Bhattaraka Lakshmisena]] of the [[Jinakanchi Jain Math]] (also known as the [[Mel Sithamur Jain Math]]), who heads the [[Tamil Jains]].
* [[Bhattaraka Dhavalakeerthi]] of the [[Arahanthgiri Jain Math]]

===Uttar Pradesh===
*Ravindrkirti Swami of  [[Jambudweep|Jammudeep tirth Hastinapur]]

==Historical Bhattaraka Seats==
Bhaṭṭāraka seats existed at the following places until recent centuries:<ref>Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, Religion and Culture, by Vilas Adinath Sangave, Published 2001</ref>
# North India:  [[Delhi]], [[Hisar, Haryana]], [[Mathura]]
# Rajasthan: [[Jaipur]], [[Nagaur]], [[Ajmer]], [[Chittorgarh]], [[Pratapgarh, Rajasthan]], [[Dungarpur]], [[Narsimhapur]], [[Rishabhdeo]], [[Mahavirji]]
# Madhya Pradesh: [[Gwalior]], [[Sonagiri]], [[Ater (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Ater]], [[Chanderi]], [[Sironj]], [[Rehli]], [[Panagar]]
# Gujarat: [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]], [[Sagwada]], [[Surat]], Bhanpur, [[Sojitra]], [[Kalol, Gandhinagar|Kalol]], Jerhat
# Maharashtra: [[Karanja (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karanja]], [[Nagpur]], [[Latur]], [[Nanded]], [[Kolhapur]], Nandani
# Andhra Pradesh: [[Penukonda]]
# Karnataka: [[Malakheda]], [[Karkala]], [[Sodhe|Swadi]]

The [[Digambara Terapanth|Terapanth]] movement arose in 17th century because of opposition by elite householders to Bhattarakas. Still many Bhaṭṭāraka seats in North India existed until the beginning of the 20th century. In some locations disputes arose and the reformists opposed existing Bhattarakas because they did not display the scholarship expected, or disapproval of their spending of the institutional funds.<ref>Bhattarak Charcha, Shri Digambar Jain Narhihapura Navyuvak Mandal, Bhindar, 1941</ref> Many Bhattarakas were unable to find suitable disciples to take their place after them.

A new Bhattaraka seat has again come into existence at [[Hastinapur]] presided by Bhattaraka Ravindra Kirti.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://m.bhaskar.com/article/referer/521/MAT-MP-OTH-c-8-933651-NOR.html |title='मंदिर से हमें आचार्यश्री के बताए मार्ग पर चलने की प्रेरणा मिलेगी' Dainik Bhaskar, Apr 7, 2014 |access-date=13 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214014340/http://m.bhaskar.com/article/referer/521/MAT-MP-OTH-c-8-933651-NOR.html |archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Theories of Origin==
There are several theories of how the modern Bhattarka institution originated.

In its modern form, with the Bhattaraka as an orange-robed advanced layman, its founding is often attributed to [[Prabhachandra]] of [[Mula Sangh]], [[Balatkara Gana|Balatkara Gana Saraswati gachchha]], who travelled from [[Patan, North Gujarat|Pattana]] (Gujarat) to [[Delhi]], where he was anointed in a ceremony as  the first Bhattaraka of Delhi. He was invited by the ruler of Delhi, who is identified as Muhammad Bin [[Tughlaq dynasty|Tughlaq]].<ref>दिल्ली पट्ट के मूलसंघीय भट्टारक प्रभाचन्द्र और पद्मनन्दि, Parmanand Jain, Agarchand Nahta Abhinandan Granth Part 2, 1977, p.191-197</ref>

However [[Shrutasagara]], in his commentary on Shatprabhrita, mentioned Prabhachandra's predecessor Vasantakirti as having adopted body coverage first.<ref>Jain Dharma Ka Maulik Itihas, Gajsimha Rathod, Jaipur</ref> The lineage linking Vasabtakirti and Prabhachandra is given as following (see [[Balatkara Gana]]):

# Vasantakirti at Mandapadurg
# Vishalakirti (or Prakhyatkirti), Ajmer
# Shubhakirti, Ajmer
# Dharmachandra, Ajmer
# Ratnakirti, Ajmer
# [[Prabhachandra]], who visited Delhi

Originally the wearing of clothes was regarded to be an exception to be used when going out.<ref>Bhattarak Parampara, Biharilal Jain, Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth, 1982, p. 66-70</ref> Until recent time, many Bhattarakas used to discard clothing within the monastery on specific occasions like eating, image consecretion or initiating another Bhattaraka.<ref>YASHODHAR-CHARITA : SACHITRA PANDULIPIYAN By Dr. Kamala Garg, Moortidevi Granthamala, 1991</ref><ref>Ravindra K. Jain, The Universe as Audience: Metaphor and Community among the Jains of North India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 1999, p. 33.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mula Sangh]]
* [[Kashtha Sangh]]
* [[Yati]] 
* [[Mahatma#Jain Mahatmas in Dabestan-e Mazaheb|Mahatma]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Jainism Topics}}

[[Category:Digambara]]
[[Category:Titles and occupations in Hinduism]]