Basic Jain Culture Non Possession

Author(s): Padamchand Shastri, N L Jain
Publisher: Veer Seva Mandir Trust

Page 27

vision on non-possession, were called 'Digambaras', while those, who had a coarse and mono-sided vision on non-possession, were called Shvetambaras. It should be noted that whereas the Digambaras emphasize withdrawal from all kinds of internal and external possessions with a finer vision, the Shvetambaras emphasize only on withdrawal from internal possessions assuming the external possessions as secondary. That is why, they have admitted the salvation of women and clothed individuals. Had non-violence etc. were the origin of these two sects, it would have been mentioned somewhere. However, it is not so. Both the sects have uniformity of forms and characteristics of the four qualities of non-violence etc. If there is any difference, it is only with reference to characterising 'Possession' and 'non-possession'.
Two verses are quite popular in both the Jain sects. There is the one auspicious verse recited in Digambara sect at the beginning of reading the religious scriptures which offers bowings to the naked Kundakundacharya-a perfect non-possessed saint. In contrast, the Shvetambara sect recites the verse which offers bowings to the clothed acharya Sthulabhadra (who as per Digambaras, is a possessed one). These verses are as follows: (a) In Digambaras
मंगलं भगवान् वीरो, मंगलं गौतमो गणिः। मंगलं कुन्दकुन्दार्यों, जैनधर्मोऽस्तु मंगल।। Auspicious is Lord Mahavira, Auspicious is Gautama-the chief disciple Auspicious is Kundakandacharya
Auspicious is the Jain Religion. (b) In Shvetambaras
मंगलं भगवान् वीरो, मंगलं गौतमो प्रभुः। मंगलं स्थूलभद्रार्यो, जैनधर्मोऽस्तु मंगल।।