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Their Diversity : 27 great Kundakunda. Some of them are centered at Songadh in Gujarat, others at Jaipur in Rajasthan. Generally they follow the rules and regulations of the Terāpntha in worshiping images.
3. Svetāmbara branches
are:
the
The three main branches of the Śvetāmbara “Mūrtipūjaka”, the “Sthānakavāsi" and the “Terapanthi”.
A) The Svetāmbara “Mūrtipājaka" or those who worship statues (mūrti) are the most numerous. They are also called “Pujerā” because they practice "pājā", "Mandiramārgi” because they go to temples (mandira), “Derāvāsi” or “Caityavāsi” because they worship the images, which are also known as derā or caitya.
Contrary to the Digambara, the laity of this obedience adorns the images of the Tirthankara in their temples or at home with garments, crowns, coloured jewels and worship them with offerings of flowers, fruits, saffron, etc.
Their ascetics (monks and nuns) wear white robes and keep with them a white "muhapatti" (mouth cover). They reside in shelters (upāśraya) belonging to local lay communities (samgha) that provide their maintenance. More often than not these shelters are attached to temples and are very basic with wooden-beds, bundle-racks, bowls, wash-basins and a couple of religious books. Sometimes, there is a rest-home (dharmaśālā) near for pilgrims and passing devotees.
Minor groups (gaccha) also exist among the “Mūrtipūjaka” with each its own temple, ascetics and Ācārya. To mention especially, the “Kharataragaccha,” the “Tapāgaccha" and the “Ancalagaccha”.
We find “Mūrtipūjaka” in the centres of cities in Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
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