Basic Principles Of Jainism

Author(s): Narayan Lal Kachhara
Publisher: Narayan Lal Kachhara

Page 13

These groups continued to live in peace and luckily there have been no quarrels between them. They accept the scriptures of Digambaras.
Sub-sects among Svetambaras
There are three sub-sects among the Svetambaras; Murtipujaka, Sthanakavasi and Terapanthi.
Murtipujaka
Reference has already been made about the features of Svetambara monks. Apart from wearing white clothes, they worship idols bedecked with ornaments, cost silks and diamonds and make use of scents, dhupa etc. for worship. They sing and make predictions on astrological data. There are many gacchha among them like Upakesagachha, Kharatara, Tapagacchha etc.
Sthanakavasi
This sect was founded by Lomkashaha who was born in Oswal family in about 1415 A.D. in a village by name Arahatawada of the former Sirohi State, now in Gujarat. At the age of twenty five he went to Ahmedabad.
Being pleased with his hand writing he was employed by a Muni by name Jnanasri to copy the scriptures. He copied a number of scriptures and while doing so, he used to keep one copy for himself. In course of time, he found that the type of idol-worship which was then in vogue had not the sanction of scriptures. So he undertook to reform the Jaina religion and those who came to hear his preaching were greatly influenced by him and requested him to accept them as his followers. Lomkashaha declined on the ground that he was still a house-holder. Jnanasri Muni initiated him into asceticism and hence was born the Lomkagacchha in about 1476 A.D. Later the followers of this school in about 1642 A.D. came to be known as Dhundhiyas, also called Sthanakavasis because they carry on their religious duties in sthanakas which are like prayer halls.
The Sthanakvasis do not build temples, do not believe in the worship of idols and do not have faith in places of pilgrimage. They tie a white piece of cloth, muhapati, to their mouth. In about the 18th century Satyavijaya Muni advised the Svetambara Murtipujaka to wear yellow clothes to distinguish them from the Sthanakavasis and that practice is still in vogue to this day.
Terihapanthi
This sub-sect was established in Mewar by one Acharya Bhikshu or Bhikhanji. He founded this sect Terapanth in 1760 A.D. on the plea that monks were not following the code of conduct laid down in scriptures in daily affairs and that they were practicing irreligion in place of religion. The head of the Munis, Acharya, is respected by all the members of the Sangha who carry out his directions in their daily life.