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100 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
end of the first century A.D. But their difference is small in their articles of faith."
In this regard Dr. A.L. Basham, the renowned authority on Oriental Studies, has given his positive opinion as follows: "Out of this migration arose the great schism of Jainism on a point of monastic discipline. Bhadrabāhu, the elder of the community, who had led the emigrants, had insisted on the retention of the rule of nudity, which Mahāvīra had established. Sthūlabhadra, the leader of monks who had remained in the North, allowed his followers to wear white garments, owing to the hardships and confusions of the famine. Hence arose the two sects of Jainas, the Digambaras and the Svetāmbaras. The schism did not become final until the first century A.D.”) (The Wonder That Was India, pp. 288-89).
Further, it is worth noting that in the beginning when the schism materialised, the differences between the two sects were not acute and did not take the form of a dogmatic and doctrinaire rigidity as is clear from the fact that the Jainas by and large agreed that nakedness was the highest ideal as it is the characteristic of a Jina. Accordingly, they adored the nude images of Tīrthankaras without any reservation. In this context it is pertinent to note that all the early images of Tīrthankaras found at Mathurā in Uttar Pradesh are nude. But slowly the question of clothing became important and accordingly different views and approaches were put forward in regard to various aspects and practices of the religious life. As a result with the passage of time and changed conditions, attitudes and approaches began to stiffen, doctrines to ossify and the sectarian outlook to dominate. This phenomenon is found among the other religious sects of that time. Naturally, it affected the Jaina religion also.
3. The Digambara and Svetāmbara sects
It is worthwhile to see what the exact differences between the Digambara and Svetāmbara sects of Jainism are. Liturally, the monks of the Digambaras are naked while those of
