Jainism

Author(s): N R Guseva
Publisher: Sindu Publications P L

Page 83

CHAPTER VI
THE STRUCTURE OF JAIN COMMUNITY
(Its Customs)
As is already indicated, the entire Jain community is divided into two sects-Digambaras and Shvetambaras.
Digambaras in their turn are divided into five subsects—bisapanthi, terapanthi, taranapanthi (or samayapanthi), gumanapanthi and totapanthi.
The difference between them consists mainly in observance or non-observance of one or the other fine point of ritual (thus, bisa panthi present flowers, fruits and sweetmeats to the images of Tirthankars and Terapanthi present only rice), but the first two subsects do not visit the temples of other subsects.
Shvetambaras have three subsects: pujera (or murtipujaka or deravasi or mandirmargi), dhundia (or bistola or sthanakavasi or sadhumargi) and terapanthi.
Pujeras dress up and richly adorn Tirthankars in their temples, their ascetics bind their mouths with white cloth but they can wear yellow dress. The dhundias have not got images of Tirthankars at all, and their ascetics wear only white. Terapanthi is rather a big subsect and strictly observes ascetism. They also do not worship the images of Tirthankars.
The spiritual life of all these subsects is led by the headsAcharyas. Still petty groups, headed by their mentors-Acharyas -exist in the subsects. These groups are called sanghas and still smaller subgroups--gana, gachcha and sakha-exist in those sanghas. Contradictions and disputes constantly arise amongst them about various questions of ritual. Many groups have their own temples and separate schools for religious education of the young. These schools are called gurukulas or patha shalas.
1. H. Jacobi considers that the division took place in the second century after Mahavir's death (H. Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, Part I, p. XXXV).
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