Balatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha.Jain Shilalekh Samgrah, Part 4, Vidyadhar Johrapurkar, Bharatiya Jnanapith, 1961 Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was present in a number of places in India.Vidaydhar Johrapurkar, Bhattaraka Sampradaya, Solapur, 1958 However all its seats in North India became vacant in early 20th century. It survives only at Humbaj in Karnataka, which is its ancient seat.
The Bhattaraka seat at Humcha was founded in the 8th century AD, during the reign of Jinadatta Rai, founder of the ruling dynasty of Santar. In 1048 AD, the Mahamandaleshwara Chandarayarus made a donation to a Bhattaraka of Balagara-gana at Balligame near Banavasi in present-day Karnataka. Thus, the Bhattaraka seat at Humcha (or Humbaj) may be one of the oldest of its kind. The current Bhattaraka Srimad Devendrakeerthi Bhattaraka Maharaj has supervised 31 pratishthas outside India.
Balatkara Gana arrived in North India in the 13th century as attested by inscriptions at Un (Vikram 1218), Ahar (Vikram 1228) and Hoshangabad (Vikram 1271.Bharatiya Digambar Jain Abhilekh, Madhya Pradesh: 13th Shati Tak, Dr. Kasturchand Jain Suman, 2001
There exists a chronology (Pattavali) of the northern Indian tradition the early part of which was composed during the time of Bhataraka Prabhachandra II. Early part of the chronology is supported by a 13th-century inscription associated with the building of the Kirti Stambh of Chittor.Jain Shilalekh Samgrah, Part 5, Vidyadhar Johrapurkar, Bharatiya Jnanapith, 1971 The disciples of Bhattaraka Prabhachandra founded several branches and sub-branches in several regions of India.
North India branches Prabhachandra (1318–1368) is regarded to be the first Bhattaraka of Delhi (see Jainism in Delhi) who reigned during 1318–1388. His pupil Padmanandi (1368–1418) had three disciples. Sakalakirti (1420–1475), first Bhattakra of Idar lineage. Devendrakirti, who had two disciples: Vidyanandi, who founded the Rander-Surat lineage. Tribhuvanakirti who founded the Chanderi lineage. Shubhachandra (1418–1450), whose disciple Jinachandra (1450–1514), both Bhattarakas of Delhi, had three pupils: Ratnakirti, founder of Nagaur lineage of 26 Bhattarakas into 20th century. Prabhachandra II, who had two pupils: Dharmachandra, founder of Chittore/Amer/Jaipur lineage Sumatikirti, founder of Gwalior lineage. A branch of this later managed Sonagir until 1974.
The dates for the Bhattarakas of Delhi were computed by Dr. Jyotiprasad Jain.Chronology of the Bhattarakas of Delhi, Dr. Jyotiprasad Jain, Anekanta Oct. 1964, pp. 159-164
Pattavalis (pontifical genealogies)
There exist several pattavalis of Mula Sangh-Balatkara Gana-Saraswati Gachchha.
By Dr. Hoerncle, published in The Indian Antiquary, Oct 1891, p341-361; March 1892, pp. 57–85 .Dr. Hoerncle, Sarasvati gachha pattavali, Indian Antiquary, Vol. XX, Oct 1891, March 1892. These include Pattavalis A (1840 CE Nagaur includes Jnatis), B(1840 Chittor includes Jnatis ), C (1450CE), D(1822-1826 CE), E (1880CE, includes Jnatis). Amer-Jaipur Pattavali, given by Siddhantacharya Phulachandra Shastri Siddhantacharya Phulachandra Shastri, Parwar Jain Samaj ka Itihas, 1990, Jabalpur (referred to as Ujjain Pattavali). Gwalior-Bateshwar Pattavali, given by Pt. Jhammanlal Jain Tarkatirtha.Pt. Jhammanlal Jain Tarkatirtha, Shri Lamechu Samaj ka Itihas, Calcutta, 1952
The pattavalis give the following segmentsKailash Chandra Jain, Malwa through the ages, 1972, Motilal Banarsidass
Bhaddalpur, Dakshin Desh (South country) or Malwa, 26 Acharyas Ujjain, 18 Acharyas Baran (Near Kota), 12 Acharyas Gwalior (or Chittor and Baghera), 14 Acharyas Ajmer (From Vishalakirti to Prabhachandra, the last Acharya) Delhi (Bhattarakas Prabhachnadra, Padmanandi, Shubhachandra and Jinachandra
Because of occasional shifting, some of the monks may have lived in different places at different times, causing some disagreements in the pattavalis.
Three inscriptions describing the construction of Kirti Stambha of Chittor have been found that mention Vishalakirti-Shubhakirti-Dharmachandra thus conforming the names going back to 13th century.
See also Kirti Stambha Mula Sangh Bhattaraka Acharya Jainism in Delhi
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