Upadhyay

Upadhyay, also spelled Upadhyaya (sanskrit: उपाध्याय), is a surname used by some Brahmin people in Nepal and India.

Upādhyāya is the surname of some members of the Madhwa Shivalli Brahmins and Havyaka Brahmins of Karnataka, Kota Brahmins of the Kundapur and surrounding areas of Udupi and the Audichya Brahmins of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The Gujarat Brahmins of Shandilya are in Surat. Amongst Telugu Brahmins, Upadhyay is turned into Upadhyayula, with an "ula" at the end.

Notable people with the surname include:

Jain monasticism

Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community. The term nirgrantha "bondless" was used for Jain monks in the past. Digambaras use the word muṇi for male monastics and aryika for female monastics. Śvētāmbaras use the word sadhvis for female monastics. Another ancient term, samaṇa "striver", is used mainly by the Sthānakavāsī. The monastic practises of two major sects Digambara and Śvētāmbara sect vary greatly but the main principles of both the sects are same.

Digambara monasticism

Digambara means "those whose, garment (ambara) is the element that fills the four quarters of space (dig-directions)". Observing complete abstinence, Digambara monks don't wear any clothes. A Digambara monk is permitted to carry only three things: one Morpichhi and one Kamandalu (water gourd) and shastra (scripture). Acharya Kundakunda is the most revered acharya of present dussama (read as Dukhma) kaal of present Avasarpani era (descending half time cycle as per Jain cosmology). Every Digambara monk is required to follow the 28 vows (vrats) compulsory.