Jaina Philosophy

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 28

HISTORY OF JAINISM
Heads. This practice is in force even in the present time. The Śvetämbaras hold that the practice of dispensing with clothing has no longer been requisite since the time of the last omniscient Jambu.
15
The following main differences exist between the Digambaras and the Svetambaras :
1. The Digambaras believe that no original canonical text exists now. The Svetāmbaras still preserve a good number of original scriptures.
2. According to the Digambaras, the omniscient no longer takes any earthly food. The Śvetāmbaras 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 Śvetāmbaras 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 Śvetāmbaras reject this view. According to them, Mahāvīra was married and had a daughter.
5. The images of tirthankaras are not decorated at all by the Digambaras, whereas the Śvetambaras 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 Svetambara sub-sects : Mūrtipujaka, Sthanakavāsī and Terapanthi. The number of present important Digambara sub-sects is also three : Bisapanthi, Terahapanthi and Taraṇapanthi. The Murtipujakas worship images of tirthankaras etc. The Sthanakavāsīs are non-worshippers. The Terapanthīs are also not in favour of idol-worship. Their interpretation of non-violence (ahiṁsā) is