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A Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism
go elsewhere. Śivabhūti left the home and entered in a dwelling which was incidentally a Jain monastry (upāsraya). He requested the achārya (priest) of the monastry to initiate him but his request was turned down. Śivabhūti, then, plucked out his hairs himself and started wandering as a monk with others. After some time, he came to his native place. When the king was informed of his arrival, he sent a precious shawl (ratna kambala) to him as a gift. Possession of such a precious article by a monk was protested by his senior but Śivabhūti did not pay any heed to his advice. His senior, then tore off the shawl and used it as mattress. At that time Śivabhūti did not say anything but out of reaction gave up all clothing which ultimately resulted in the schism of the order.
In an another version of Sivabhūti episode it is stated that Sivabhūti did not agree with his teacher Krişnarşi that the jinakalpikas (adherents of jinakalpa) are of two kinds. While some observe absolute nonpossession, others may have necessary requisites. Śivabhūti asserted that a follower of jinakalpa should strictly observe the principle of austerity including nudity. He gave up all clothing and created a schism. He was joined by Kaundinya and Kottavira as his disciples. His sister Uttarã is also said to have joined him, but was forbidden by him from observing nudity. The members of this group were initially called bodiyas but because of their practice of nudity they were later on known as Digambaras.
Thus, according to the “vetāmbara tradition the Digambara sect originated 609 years after Mahāvīra's death, that is, in the first century AD.
The accounts of the Svetāmbara and Digambara traditions are so discrepant that on the basis of them it is very difficult to reach a conclusion as to when and how the split occurred. Nontheless, they give us certain clues which may help us in settling this issue.
Hoernle in his article on the Ājivikas in the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics expressed the opinion that the Digambaras were
