Singhai

Singhai (also Sanghvi, Shanghvi, Shingavi or Singhi from Sanskrit Sanghapati (संघपति), literally chief of the Sangha) is a hereditary title awarded in the past to leaders of the Jain Sangha.[1]

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Among the Digambara Jains the title is awarded for building a Jain temple with formal installation (Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha) of Tirthankara images with festivities, often accompanied with a gajrath.[2][3] Among the Shvetambar Jains it is awarded for conducting a mass pilgrimage to major tirthas.[4]

Bundelkhand titles

In most north Indian Jain communities, the honorific "Sah" (Sanskrit Sadhu) has been widely used. It can be used by any Jain.

In Bundelkhand a system of titles, which are inherited, has been in use for several centuries.

Award of Singhai

A 1436 AD inscription at Deogarh uses the terms Singhai and Sanghadhipati. It mentions a pratishtha conducted by Bhattaraka Devendrakirti of Chanderi.[5] A 1467 AD inscription on a metal image in Bhind uses the term Sanghai for the male members of a family and Sanghaini for two female members.[6] These and other 15th century inscriptions suggest the presence of the title in Bundelkhand.

The tradition of the title Singhai exists in Bundelkhand among the Parvaars, Golapurvas[7] and the Golarare. It also exists in the Bhadawar/Gwalior region among the Kharaua,[8] and Varaiya communities.[9] The terms Sanghavi, Sanghadhip and Sanghapati were used in the time of poet Raighu (1383–1468) for Gwalior Shravakas belonging to Agrawal and Golalare communities.[10]

Navalsah Chanderia has described an elaborate Pratishtha with Gajrath conducted by his ancestors in 1594 at Bhelsi where they were awarded the title of Singhai.[11] The temple built on this occasion still exists in Bhelsi. Vinodilal (about in 1690) his Phulamala Pachchisi mentions that organizing a pratishtha is rewarded by the title Sanghahi.

At the conclusion of the pratishtha function, a turban of chanderi cloth was formally placed on the head of the organizing shraavaka,[12] and people in the congregation ritually saluted him saying "Singhaiji Juhaar".

Higher titles

In Bundelkhand a raking of titles had existed in the past. A person who already has the rank Singhai, receives the title "Savaai Singhai" upon another gaja-ratha pratishtha.[13] On a third occasion they receive the title "Seth", and following that the title "Shrimant Seth" is conferred.[14] [15]

Khurai Zamindar Nandlal had conducted gaja-ratha pratishtha on three occasions, 1834, 1839 and 1863 and thus had earned the titles Singhai, Savaai Singhai and Seth.[16] His grandson Mohanlal had conducted pratishtha in 1893 and thus had earned the title Shrimant Seth.[17] Gopal Sao Puran Sao of Seoni[18] was awarded the title for conducting pratishthas in 1849 in Jabalpur and 1877, 1895 and 1902 at Seoni.[19][20] In Vidisha, in 1933, Sitab Rai Laxmi Chand was given the title Shrimant Seth in Itawa for the funding the publication of Shatkhandagam text.[21] Mathuradas Taraiya of Lalitpur was awarded the title in 1920s.[22] Devendra Kamra & his family of Lalitpur was conferred with the title of Shrimant Seth on 30.11.2018 in front of Shri 108 Vidyasagar ji Maharaj. Some of the Khag clan families in Karitoran, Lalitpur hold the title Savaai Seth, which is equivalent.[23]

In 1924, among the Parwars, 1022 families held the title Singhai, 161 Sawai Singhai, 130 Seth, 1 Sawai Seth and 3 Shrimat Seth.[24] Among the Golapurvas, in 1941, 1186 individuals held the title Singhai, 281 Sawai Singhai, 487 Seh and 8 Sawai Seth, out of a total population of 12569.[25]

The Taranpanth Samaj officially does not support idols and thus do not conduct bimba pratishtas, however they conduct vedi pratishta. They now award titles Seth and Sawai Seth based on contributions to Taranpanthi institutions.[26] Bhagwandas Jain of Sagar[27] and his descendants were awarded the title Shrimant Seth by the Taranpanth Samaj in 1980s. Devendra Kamra and his family who contributed in construction of temple and in vedi pratistha of Munisuvrat Nath Temple in Gaushala Lalitpur along with holding title of Saudharmendra Indra, Yagyanayak and Bahubali in Panchkalyanak done on 24.11.2018 in sanidhya of 108 Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj was conferred the title of Shrimanth Seth on 30.11.2018 by Digamber Jain Panchayat Samiti for honouring his philanthropic works.

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See also
  • Shah (Indian family name)

References
  1. Siddhantacharya Phulachandra Shastri, Parvaar Jain Samaj ka Itihas, 1990, Jabalpur
  2. Jaina-siddhānta-bhāskara, Volume 52, Devkumar Jain Oriental Research Institute., 1999, p. 22
  3. Parsai Rachanavali-V-2, Hariśaṅkara Parasai, Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd, 2005 p. 46-47 (originally published in Parivartan in 1957)
  4. Cūrū Maṇḍala kā śodhapūrṇa itihāsa, Volume 1, Govinda Agravāla, 1974
  5. Siddhantacharya Phulachandra Shastri, Parwar Jain Samaj ka Itihas, 1990, Jabalpur, p. 121
  6. ["Barhad (Jila Bhind) ki Jain Pratimayen Yantrapatta aur unke Abhilekh", Navnit Kumar Jain, Arvind Kumar Singh, Prachin Tirth Jirnoddhar, April 2016, p. 25]
  7. Golapurva Directory, Ed. Mohanlal Jain Kaavyatirth, 1940
  8. Shri Digambar Jain Kharaua Samaj ka Itihas, Ramjit Jain, Gayelia Jain Dharmath Trust, Gwalior, 1990, p. 32-33
  9. Shri Digambar Jain Variya Samaj ka Itihas, Ramjit Jain, Lalmani Prasad Jain, Gwalior, 1987, p. 140-142
  10. Gopachal Siddhakshetra, Ramjit Jain, 1987, Mahavir Paramagam Seva Samiti, p. 80-81
  11. Tirthankar_Mahavir_Aur_Unki_Acharya_Parampara, Part IV, Nemichandra Shastri, p. 444
  12. History of Chanderi Sarees, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Yatra men Ek Lakh Ka Chittha, (Gadyana Gajrath), Parwar Bandhu, March 1924, p. 118-125
  14. Census of India, 1901, Volume 13, Part 1, India. Census Commissioner 1902, p. 98
  15. Kamal kumar Jain Shastri, Jain Samaj Darpan, Vira Nirvan Sam. 2463, (1936 CE) p. 125-126
  16. p. 339
  17. Volume 1 of The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Robert Vane Russell, Macmillan and Company, Limited, 1916, p.228
  18. Shrimant Seth Gopal Sao Puran Sao vs Municipal Council on 1 August 2011, http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1545534/
  19. Siddhantacharya Phulachandra Shastri, Parvaar Jain Samaj ka Itihas, 1990, Jabalpur, p. 332
  20. Jain Itishas Series No 1, Jain Itihas Society, Agra, 1902, p. 83
  21. Vidyarthi Jain Dharm Shiksha, Brahmachari Sitalprasad, Mulchand Kisandas Kapadia, 1933, p. 7
  22. Parvaar Directory, 1924, p. 8
  23. Golapurva Directory, Ed. Mohanlal Jain Kavyatirth, 1940, p. d, p. 65
  24. Parvaar Directory, 1924, p. 166-167
  25. Golapurva Directory, Ed. Mohanlal Jain Kaavyatirth, 1940, p. "d"
  26. फुटेराकलां मंगलवार को स्थानीय चैत्यालय में, 2010, dainik Bhaskar, http://www.bhaskar.com/article/MP-OTH-1940730-3055849.html
  27. Siddhantacharya Pandit Phulchandra Shastri Abhinandan Granth, 1985,
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