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In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (
In Jainism, an ''acharya'' is the highest leader of a Jain order. ''Acharya'' is one of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi (five supreme beings) and thus worthy of worship. They are the final authority in the monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. They are also authorized to consecrate new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by them.
An acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the Chaturmas. Bhaṭṭārakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.
Scriptural References to 'acharya'
Dr. K. C. Jain {{Buddhism topics Titles and occupations in Hinduism Buddhist titles Buddhist religious occupations Swaminarayan Sampradaya Sanskrit words and phrases Titles in India History of education in India Jain religious occupations
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a title affixed to the names of learned subject. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
and secular contexts.
''Acharya'' is sometimes used to address an expert teacher or a scholar in any discipline, e.g.: Bhaskaracharya, the expert mathematician.
Etymology
The Sanskrit phrase ''Acharam Grahayati Acharam Dadati Iti Va'' means ''Acharya'' (or teacher) is the one who teaches good conduct to one's students. A female teacher is called an ''achāryā,'' and a male teacher's wife is called an ''achāryāni''In Hinduism
In Hinduism, an ''acharya'' is a formal title of a teacher or guru, who has attained a degree in Veda and Vedanga. Prominent acharyas in the Hindu tradition are as given below : * Adi Sankaracharya * Ramanujacharya * Madhvacharya *Nimbarka
Nimbarkacharya ( sa, निम्बार्काचार्य, Nimbārkāchārya) ( 1130 – 1200), also known as Nimbarka, Nimbaditya or Niyamananda, was a Hindu philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the theology of Dvaita ...
charya
* Vallabhacharya
* Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
* Acharya Sandipani
Buddhism
In Buddhism, an ācārya ( Pali: ''ācariya'') is a senior teacher or master. In Theravada it is sometimes used as a title of address for Buddhist monks who have passed ten '' vassas''. In Thai, the term is ''ajahn
Ajahn ( th, อาจารย์, , ) is a Thai-language term that translates as "professor" or "teacher". It is derived from the Pali word '' ācariya'' and is a term of respect, similar in meaning to the Japanese '' sensei''. It is used as ...
, and'' in Japanese it is ''ajari''.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, tantric masters are known as vajrācāryas (Tibetan: ''dorje lopön;'' Jp. “kongō ajari” 金剛阿闍梨).
In Jainism
In Jainism, an ''acharya'' is the highest leader of a Jain order. ''Acharya'' is one of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi (five supreme beings) and thus worthy of worship. They are the final authority in the monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. They are also authorized to consecrate new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by them.
An acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the Chaturmas. Bhaṭṭārakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.
In scientific/mathematical scholarship
* Bhaskaracharya * Mahaviracharya * Bhaskaracharya IAcharya (degree)
In Sanskrit institutions, acharya is a post-graduate degree.See also
* Srikanta AcharyaReferences
External links
Scriptural References to 'acharya'
Dr. K. C. Jain {{Buddhism topics Titles and occupations in Hinduism Buddhist titles Buddhist religious occupations Swaminarayan Sampradaya Sanskrit words and phrases Titles in India History of education in India Jain religious occupations