Jaina Community a Social Survey

SR No.: 007019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Popular Book Depot Bombay
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 484
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 77

Religious Divisions in the Jaina Community
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(iii) According to the Digambaras, once a saint had attained
* Kevala Jñāna'i. e. omniscience, needed no food, but could sustain life without eating. This view is not acceptable
to the Svetāmbaras.
Leaving aside the trivial differences in rituals, customs and mannersis, the following are some of the minor points on which the two sects do not agree : (i) The Digambaras maintain that the embryo of Mahāvīra,
the last Tirthankara, was not removed from the womb of Devanandā, a Brahmin lady, to that of Trisalā or Priyakariņi,
a Kshatriya lady, as the Svetāmbaras contend. (ii) The Digambaras believe in the complete disappearance of
the ancient sacred literature of the Jainas and as such disown
the canonical books of the Svetāmbaras. (iii) The Digambaras assert that Mahāvīra never married but
according to the Svetāmbaras Mahāvīra married Yasodā and · had a daughter from her by name Anojjā or Priyadarśanā. (iv) The Svetambaras consider Mallinātha, the 19th Tirthan
kara, as a female but the Digambaras state that Mallinātha
was a male. (v) According to Digambaras, the Tirthankaras must be 're
presented as nude and unadorned, and with downcast eyes. This need not be so according to Svetāmbaras.16
4. THE MAJOR AND MINOR SUB-SECTS The division of the Jaina Church into two sects mentioned above was only the beginning of splitting the religion into various sects. Each of the two great divisions again got sub-divided into different major and minor sub-sects according to the difference in acknowledging or interpreting the religious texts.17 These major and minor sub-sects 'gradually sprang up for the most part on account of different interpretations the pontiffs put on the canonical texts from time to time. The Digambaras are divided into following sub-sects : (a) Major sub-sects :
(i) Bisapanthi. (ii) Terāpanthi. (iii) Taranapanthi or Samaiyāpanthi.