Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): S Gopalan
Publisher: Wiley Eastern Private Limited New Delhi

Page 30

Svetambaras and Digambaras
Svetāmbaras and Digambaras represent the two principal sects of
the Jaina community. By and large the differences in regard to the general philosophy observable in the two sects are not of a fundamental character. This is evident from the fact that both the sects consider a Jaina classic Tattvārthādhigama-Sūtra as most authoritative. The author of the work was probably a Svetāmbara, but the Digambaras also regard it as one of their primary source-books. All the same for a non-Jaina the puritan spirit of the Digambaras is so striking that he thinks that there are fundamental differences between thc Svetāmbaras and the Digambaras. That the differences are negligible will become clear from the sequel but it is interesting to note what a Svetāmbara is reported to have said: “We are the catholics amongst the Jains; the Digambaras represent the puritan.” This explains the extremism, at least in regard to the outward appearance, of the Digambaras.
The Digambaras went about 'clothed in space', (the term dik stands here for space and aṁbara, for clothes) impressing upon the world that they belonged to no group or community but to the whole of humanity and proclaiming that they had got over the last determining marks by casting off their clothes.
Zimmer's remarks on religion in general offers us an insight into the motivations responsible for the Digambaras insisting on becoming complete ‘non-entities'. He writes : “Religion is supposed
1 See Encyclopaedia of Religion & Ethics, Vol. 22, p. 123