Pattavali

A Pattavali (From Sanskrit patta: seat, avali: chain) is a record of a spiritual lineage of heads of monastic orders. They are thus spiritual genealogies [Śrī paṭṭāvalī-samuccayaḥ, Vīramagāma, Gujarāta : Śrī Cāritra-Smāraka-Granthamālā, 1933] . It is generally presumed that two successive names are teacher and pupil. Thus the pupil derives his authority from his teacher, the lineage goes back to the founder (Lord Mahavira in case of Jainism).

The term is applicable for all dharmic religions, but is generally used for Jain monastic orders.

There are several famous pattavalis [Akbar as Reflected in the Contemporary Jain Literature in Gujarat, by Shirin Mehta, Social Scientist, 1992, p. 54-60 ] [Medieval Jaina Goddess Traditions, by John CortNumen,1987 BRILL, p. 235-255] which are often used to establish historical chronologies:

#Sarasvatigachchha Pattavali: Pattavali of the Balatkara Gana of Mula Sangh
#Tapagaccha Pattavali: Pattavali of Tapa Gachchha, a branch of Brihad gacha
#Upkes Gacch Pattavali: Pattavali of now extinct Upkesh Gachchh.
#Kharatavagachha Pattavali: Pattavali of Kharatara Gachchha, a branch of Brihad gacha

ee also

* Lineage (Buddhism)
* Religious order
* Monasticism

References