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Acharya

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For other uses, see Acharya (disambiguation).

In Indian religions and society, an acharya (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ācārya; Pali: ācariya) is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists.[1][2] The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism 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 ācāraṁ grahāyati ācāraṁ dadāti iti vā means Acharya (or teacher) is the one who teaches good conduct to one's students.[3][4] A female teacher is called an achāryā, and a male teacher's wife is called an achāryāni [5]

In Hinduism

The term 'Acharya' has numerous definitions. Hinduism frequently uses the terms "acharya" and "guru" interchangeably. According to the Dharma Shastras, acharya is the one who imparts knowledge of the entire Veda to a student and performs upanayana sanskar.[4]

According to Nirukta, an ancillary discipline associated with the Vedas, an acharya is an individual who imparts knowledge to a student, collects wealth from the student, and helps pupils understand behaviour based on moral norms.[4]

According to Manusmriti, the individual who, having initiated a pupil, teaches him the Veda along with the ritualistic and esoteric treatises—him they call, ‘Ācārya,’ ‘Preceptor’—(140)[6]

Other authors' definitions:[6]

  • Gautama-Dharmasūtra, 1.10-11. — ‘The Upanayana is the second birth. He from whom this is received is the Ācārya.’
  • Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra, 1.2.24-27.—‘He from whom one gathers (learns, ācinoti) his duties is the Ācārya; he brings about the essence of knowledge; this constitutes the highest birth.’
  • Vaśiṣṭha-smṛti, 3. 24.—‘He who, having initiated him, teaches him the entire Veda is the Ācārya.’
  • Viṣṇu-smṛti, 29.1.—‘He who, having initiated the pupil and taught him the observances, teaches him the Veda, should be known as the Ācārya.’
  • Yājñavalkya-smṛti, 1.34.—‘He who, after initiating, teaches the Veda is called the Ācārya.’

Prominent acharyas in the Hindu tradition

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, 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

Main article: Acharya (Jainism)
Image of Āchārya Kundakunda, author of Jain texts like Pancastikayasara, Niyamasara

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 have the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. They also have the authority to consecrate new idols, though they occasionally appoint scholars to carry out this duty.

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

Acharya (degree)

In Sanskrit institutions, acharya is a post-graduate degree.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Acharya - Quick search results | Oxford English Dictionary".
  2. ^ Platts, John T. (1884). A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English. London: W. H. Allen & Co. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  3. ^ Vinod Singh (1 October 2018). Higher Education for Sustainable Development and Millennium Development Goals. CCLP Worldwide. pp. 282–. ISBN 978-93-5321-685-6. The role of Guru or Acharya was also very significant in this traditional education system. The word 'Acharya' can be derived as 'Acharam Grahayati Acharam Dadati Iti Va'. It means- Acharya or teacher is that who teaches good behavior to his pupils
  4. ^ a b c Ram Nath Sharma; Rajendra Kumar Sharma (1996). History of Education in India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-81-7156-599-3.
  5. ^ Suhas Chatterjee (1998). Indian Civilization and Culture. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 273–. ISBN 978-81-7533-083-2.
  6. ^ a b www.wisdomlib.org (4 September 2016). "Manusmriti Verse 2.140 [Meaning of the Title 'Ācārya']". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ [viswakarma community] Although famous for being the proponent of advaita vad, he established the supremacy of bhakti to Krishn.
  8. ^ He propagated the bhakti of Bhagwan Vishnu. Source: Ramanujacharya Archived 26 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ His philosophy is called dvaita vad. His primary teaching is that "the only goal of a soul is to selflessly and wholeheartedly love and surrender to God" Source: [1]
  10. ^ His writings say that Radha Krishna are the supreme form of God.
  11. ^ "Nandan Mishra vs University Of Delhi & Ors on 12 May, 2015". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
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