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MODERS JAINISM.
Daily Worship of a Digambara Layman.
A Digambara layman told me that, like members of the other two sects, he told his beads, but did not do either Padikamaņum or Sāmāyika. After telling his beads, he went to the temple about 8 A. M., and wearing only his dhoti did Kriyā Pujā (%41 YM! i.e. offered rice, almonds and cocoanut. This took about an hour, and my informant did no more pujā during the day, because he happened to belong to the Terāpantha (2014) sub-sect* of the Digambara Jaina, who do not do Arati pujā, giving as their reason that the Tirthankara, having attained bliss, take no further interest in mortals, so that there could be no profit in performing such a ceremony as the A'rati. The Visapantha sect of Jaina, however, believe in offering the A rati, for they say that, since the Tirthankara, who have now attained Moksa, did so, there must be some advantage in it.
The Digambara do not permit their women to perforin any pujā near the idol ; they may only perform such pujā as can be done at a distance : ( Dars'una alt).
"A Sthanakaväsi Sädhu kindly furnished me with the following information about the Terapantha Sect.
They are recruited from all three sects, though their founder was a Sthānakavāsi, who abont 150 years ago, in Sojat (Märwār), entertained doubts about certain current practices, and founded a sect of his own. They are called Teräpantla, because the number of Sadhus who joined was originally thirteen. Their ascetics wear the same dress, etc., as the Sthånakavåsi Sädbu, but will not stay in an Upasaro, preferring to beg the loan of houses from wealthy laymen.
The Terāpanthi accept the Sthånakavāsi scriptures, but reail their own meaning into certain passages. They are not as particular as other Jaina about protecting animal life, never for instance interfering to save mice from cats, so the orthodox of all three sects unite in condemning them.
They are found chiefly in Käthiāwār, Cutch and Rajputānā.
