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106 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
evolved as a revolt against the religious beliefs and practices prevailing in the Digambara Jaina sect, and it appears that Tārana-svāmi might have formulated these principles under the direct influence of Islamic doctrines and the teachings of Lonkāshaha, the founder of the non-idolatrous Sthānakvāsi sub-sect of the Svetāmbara sect.
The Tāranapanthis are few in number and they are mostly confined to Bundelkhand, Malwa area of Madhya Pradesh and Khandesh area of Maharashtra.
(4) Gumānapantha
The Gumānapantha is not so important and in fact very little is known about it. It is stated that this sub-sect was started by Pandit Gumāni Rāma or Gumāni Rai, who was a son of Pandit Todaramal, a resident of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
According to this Pantha, lighting of candles or lamps in the Jaina temples is strictly prohibited, because it regards this as a violation of the fundamental doctrine of Jaina religion, viz., non-violence. They only visit and view the image in the temples and do not make any offerings to them.
This pantha became famous in the name of suddha amnāya, that is pure or sacred tradition, because its followers always stressed the purity of conduct and self-discipline and strict adherence to the precepts.
Gumānapantha originated in the 18th Century A.D. and flourished mainly during that century. It was prevalent in several parts of Rajasthan, and it is found now in some areas of Rajasthan around Jaipur.
(5) Totāpantha
The Totāpantha came into existence as a result of differences between the Bisapantha and Terāpantha sub-sects. Many sincere efforts were made to strike a compromise between the Bisa (i.e., twenty) pantha and the Terā (i.e., thirteen) pantha and the outcome was Sāļhesolaha (i.e., sixteen and a half)-pantha or 'Totāpantha'. That is why the followers of Sādhesolaha Pantha or Totāpantha believe to
