Jain Legend Vol 3

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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against this, the second sect kept on saying that eleven out of twelve limbs of original scripture are still existent. It is possible that minor parts of these eleven fold scriptures may have been lost but the major part of these is still available. The first sect therefore does not give their approval to the authenticity of the scriptures, niryuktis, c r is, appendices, prak r akas commentaries etc compiled by crya after V.N. 1000 and later. Another sub group only give their approval for the doctrine of the original scriptures only and Bh yas, c r is etc are not acceptable completely to them. On the other hand, one sub sect of
vet mbara tradition gives full acceptability to all scriptures, niryuktis, cris, appendices, prak r akas commentaries as well.
One sect believes in worshipping nude idols only while the other sect believes in worshipping clothed idols. The third section is fundamentally opposed to idol worship itself and believes only in the contemplation and meditation of non concrete and pure soul only.
Therefore if someone tries to enumerate and list all the sects, sub-sects, traditions, gacchas and ga as etc after seventh century V.N., then he may take ages to compile that literature. Then there are differences in dress code in each group also. As far as Digambara tradition is concerned, on the one hand their monks (male) do not use even a thread of cotton for covering their body and yet Bha rakas of the same sect keep all sorts of possessions including clothes, maids and servants, buildings, whisks, canopies material wealth of all types etc. Digambara monks only move around on feet while Bha rakas use trains, airplanes, motors to move around.
As far as vet mbara tradition is concerned, their monks belonging to idol worshipping sub sect do not keep mouth cover cloth but keep a hand cloth. They have accepted mouth cover cloth as an implement for monks though. One section of this sub sect use their body cover cloth for wiping and covering their mouth and and instead keep a stick in their hand.
Sth nakav s vet mbara monks on the other hand do not keep a stick in their hand but do keep a mouth cover cloth, pots, whiskbroom and books instead. One sub division of this sub sect do keep mouth cover cloth like their counterparts of Sth nakav s sub sect but the shape and size of mouth cover cloth of this group is different from Sth nakav s monks.
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