Acharyas
Acharyas through the ages
After the Tirthankaras, the teaching has been carried for 2,500 years by those who lived it — disciples, scholars, poets and wandering ascetics. These are their stories.
Era 1 · c. 600–500 BCE
Disciples of Mahavira
Those who heard the teaching from Mahavira himself and carried it forward.
- Gautama SwamiChief disciple (ganadhara) of Mahavira6th–5th century BCEGobar village, Magadha → PavaBoth traditions
- Sudharma SwamiLeader of the order after Mahavira6th–5th century BCEKollaga, MagadhaBoth traditions
- ChandanbalaFirst woman disciple of Mahavira6th–5th century BCEChampa → KaushambiBoth traditions
- Jambu SwamiDisciple of Sudharma; last to attain omniscience in this age5th century BCERajagriha (Rajgir)Both traditions
Era 2 · c. 400 BCE – 500 CE
Keepers of the teaching
The acharyas who preserved and set down the scriptures in the first centuries after Mahavira.
- Acharya BhadrabahuLast master of the complete scriptures4th century BCEPataliputra → Shravanabelagola (Digambara tradition)Both traditions
- Acharya SthulabhadraMonk of legendary self-control; keeper of the canon4th–3rd century BCEPataliputraSvetambara
- Arya SuhastiGuru of Emperor Samprati; helped Jainism spread far beyond Magadha3rd c. BCEMagadha and Ujjain (Mauryan era)Svetambara
- Acharya GunadharaAuthor of the Kashayapahuda, an early scripture on the passionsc. 1st c. BCEPlace not recorded (early Digambara lineage)Digambara
- Arya VajraswamiLast master of ten Purvas; root of many later lineagesc. 30 BCE–57 CETumbavana (Avanti) and across north IndiaSvetambara
- Acharya DharasenaKeeper of surviving Purva knowledge; teacher of Pushpadanta and Bhutabalic. 1st–2nd c. CEChandra Gupha (Moon Cave), Girnar, SaurashtraDigambara
- Acharyas Pushpadanta & BhutabaliComposers of the Shatkhandagama, the first written Digambara scripturec. 1st–2nd c. CEGirnar; later Vanavasa (Karnataka) and the Tamil countryDigambara
- Acharya KundakundaThe most revered Digambara acharyaEarly centuries CEKonakondla (Kondakunde), South IndiaDigambara
- Acharya UmaswamiAuthor of the Tattvartha Sutrac. 2nd–5th century CENorth India (Kusumapura in Svetambara accounts)Both traditions
- Acharya SamantabhadraPhilosopher and poet of the Svayambhu Stotrac. 2nd–5th century CESouth IndiaDigambara
- Devarddhigani KshamashramanaLed the Valabhi council that wrote down the Svetambara Agamas5th c. CEValabhi, Saurashtra (Gujarat)Svetambara
Era 3 · c. 450 – 1700 CE
Great acharyas of the classical age
Philosophers, logicians, poets and teachers of kings — from the courts of Karnataka to Gujarat and Akbar's Delhi.
- Acharya Siddhasena DivakaraPioneer of Jain logic; author of the Sanmati Tarkac. 5th c. CECentral and western India (tradition links him with Ujjain)Svetambara
- Acharya PujyapadaPhilosopher and grammarian; author of the Sarvarthasiddhi5th–6th c. CEKarnataka (Western Ganga kingdom)Digambara
- Jinabhadra Gani KshamashramanaGreat commentator who defended the Agamic tradition in philosophy6th–7th c. CEWestern India; Valabhi (Gujarat)Svetambara
- Acharya ManatungaPoet-monk who composed the beloved Bhaktamara Stotra7th c. CEVaranasi or Malwa (differing legends)Both traditions
- Acharya RavishenaPoet who wrote the Jain Ramayana in Sanskrit7th c. CEPlace not recordedDigambara
- Acharya Haribhadra SuriPhilosopher and prolific author8th century CEChittor, RajasthanSvetambara
- Acharya AkalankaLogician who founded Jain pramana theory8th c. CEManyakheta, Karnataka (by tradition); Rashtrakuta eraDigambara
- Acharya VirasenaAuthor of the Dhavala, the great commentary on the Shatkhandagama8th–9th c. CEVatagrama, Deccan (Rashtrakuta realm)Digambara
- Acharya JinasenaAuthor of the Adipurana; teacher of Emperor Amoghavarsha9th century CERashtrakuta court, Manyakheta (Karnataka)Digambara
- Acharya AmritchandraCommentator on Kundakunda; author of the Purusharthasiddhyupaya10th c. CEPlace not recordedDigambara
- Acharya NemichandraAuthor of the Gommatasara; guru of Chamundaraya10th century CEShravanabelagola, KarnatakaDigambara
- Acharya Abhayadeva SuriWrote Sanskrit commentaries on nine of the eleven Angas11th c. CEMalwa and Gujarat (Patan, Khambhat)Svetambara
- Acharya HemachandraScholar, poet and guide to King Kumarapala1088–1173 CEDhandhuka and Patan, GujaratSvetambara
- Acharya Hiravijaya SuriTapa Gaccha leader who inspired Emperor Akbar towards non-violence1527–1596Palanpur (Gujarat) → Fatehpur Sikri → UnaSvetambara
- Upadhyaya YashovijayaTapa Gaccha teacher-monk, master logician and devotional poet1624–1688Kanoda (north Gujarat) → Varanasi → DabhoiSvetambara
Era 4 · 1800s – today
The modern era
Acharyas of the last two centuries who renewed the monastic path and carried Jain values into public life.
Guru and disciple
The lines of guru, disciple and successor that carry each sangh today. Tap a name to read their story.
- Acharya Vijayanand SuriReformer who revived Svetambara Jainism in Punjab1837–1896Lehra (Ferozepur district), Punjab; died at GujranwalaSvetambara
- Acharya Vijay Vallabh SuriAcharya who built Jain schools, colleges and hostels1870–1954Vadodara, Gujarat; worked in Punjab; died in MumbaiSvetambara
- Acharya ShantisagarRevived the Digambara monastic tradition in the 20th century1872–1955Bhoj, Belagavi district, KarnatakaDigambara
- Acharya Buddhisagar SuriPoet, yogi and author of over 100 books1874–1925Vijapur, north GujaratSvetambara
- Acharya VeersagarFirst muni disciple and first pattadhar of Acharya Shantisagar1876–1957Born near Aurangabad, Maharashtra; samadhi at Khaniyaji, JaipurDigambara
- Acharya AtmaramFirst acharya of the Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Shraman Sangh1882–1962Rahon, Punjab; later based in LudhianaSthanakvasi (Svetambara)
- Acharya GyansagarSanskrit poet-scholar and guru of Acharya Vidyasagar1897–1973Ranoli (Sikar), Rajasthan; samadhi at Nasirabad (Ajmer)Digambara
- Acharya ShivsagarSecond pattadhar in Acharya Shantisagar's line1901–1969Born in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra; samadhi at Shri Mahavirji, RajasthanDigambara
- Acharya DeshbhushanScholar-acharya, translator and guru of Acharya Vidyananda1905–1987Kothali, Belagavi district, KarnatakaDigambara
- Acharya TulsiNinth acharya of the Terapanth order1914–1997Ladnun, RajasthanTerapanth (Svetambara)
- Acharya DharmasagarThird pattadhar in Acharya Shantisagar's line1914–1987Gambhira (Bundi), Rajasthan; samadhi at Sikar, RajasthanDigambara
- Acharya Mahapragya10th Terapanth acharya; creator of Preksha Meditation1920–2010Tamkor, Rajasthan; died at SardarshaharTerapanth (Svetambara)
- Acharya VidyanandaScholar-acharya; guiding figure of the 1974 Mahavira Nirvana celebrations1925–2019Shedbal (Belagavi), Karnataka; later DelhiDigambara
- Acharya VidyasagarPoet, teacher and one of the most revered Digambara acharyas of our time1946–2024Sadalga, Belagavi district, KarnatakaDigambara
- Acharya SamayasagarSuccessor of Acharya Vidyasagar and head of his sanghb. 1958Sadalga (Belagavi), Karnataka; sangh based in Madhya PradeshDigambara
- Acharya Mahashraman11th and present acharya of the Terapanth orderb. 1962Sardarshahar (Churu district), RajasthanTerapanth (Svetambara)
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