Gaccha

Literally a Sanskrit word for ‘tree’, gaccha is used by Śvetāmbara Mūrti-pūjak Jains to describe the largest groups of their mendicant lineages. It is often translated as ‘monastic group’, ‘monastic order’ or ‘monastic tradition’. These groups are formed when some mendicants split from their gaccha because of disagreements over ascetic practices.

Synonyms:
gaccha
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