Overview
Āchārya means the Head of an order of ascetics. Some of the famous achāryas are Bhadrabahu, Kundakunda, Samantabhadra, Umaswami, Sthulibhadra.
In Digambara Jainism, Āchārya has thirty-six primary attributes (mūla guṇa) consisting in:
Twelve kinds of austerities (tapas);
Ten virtues (dasa-lakṣaṇa dharma);
Five kinds of observances in regard to faith, knowledge, conduct, austerities, and power.
Six essential duties (Ṣadāvaśyaka); and
Gupti- Controlling the threefold activity of:
the body;
the organ of speech; and
the mind.
According to the Jain text, Dravyasamgraha,
Chandanaji became the first Jain woman to receive the title of Acharya in 1987.
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