Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 29

JAINA CULTURE
antion
2. According to the Digambaras, the omniscient no longer takes any earthly food. The Svetambaras are not prepared to accept this conception.
3. The Digambaras strictly maintain that there can be no salvation without nakedness. Since women cannot go without clothes, they are said to be incapable of salvation. The Svetambaras hold that nakedness is not essential to attain liberation. Hence, women are also capable of salvation.
4. The Digambaras hold that Mahāvīra was not married. The Svetāmbaras reject this view. According to them, Mahavira was married and had a daughter.
5. The images of tirthařkaras are not decorated at all by the Digambaras, whereas thé Svetämbaras profusely decorate them.
The two main Jaina sects, viz., the Svetambara and the Digambara, are divided into a number of sub-sects. There are at present three important Svetämbara sub-sects : Mūrtipūjaka, Sthånakavāsi and Terapanths. The number of present important Digambara sub-sects is also three : Bisapanthi, Terahapanths and Taranapanthi. The Mārtipūjakas worship images of tirthankaras etc. The Sthånakavasis are non-worshippers. The Terapanthis are also not in favour of idol-worship. Their interpretation of non-violence (ahińsā) is slightiy different from that of the other Jainas. The Bisapanthis use fruits, flowers, etc., in the idolatry ceremony, whereas the Terahapanthis use only lifeless articles in it. The Târapapanthis worship scriptures in place of images. All these sub-sects have their own religious and other works in addition to the common ones. They have their own temples and other religious and cultural centres as well.