Sudha Sagar Hindi English Jaina Dictionary

Author(s): Rameshchandra Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Vagarth Vimarsh Kendra Byavar

Page 253

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Paйcamas among the Hindus. Thirdly, while in the north in some Jaina castes Digambara and Sveta mbara divisions are found, in the Deccan there are no such divisions as the members of the Jaina castes in the Deccan belong to the Digambara sect only. We find that Osavalas, Srimālis, Porava das etc. are in Digambaras as well as in Svetambaras but there are no Saitvalas, Caturthas or Pafcamas in Sveta mbaras. Fourthly, we have seen that a large number of Northern castes have been divided into visas and Dassas and sometimes further into Pancas and Adhaiyas, but it will be noticed that in the Deccan Castes there are no such divisions. It will be remembered that the visa and Dass a divisions arose mainly on the point of widow remarriage; and those who practised widow remarriage were relegated to the Dassa section. No necessity of dividing the castes on the basis of allowing or not of widow re-marriage was felt in the Deccan. This is the main point of difference between the northern and the Deccan Jaina Castes. Fifthly, it can be mentioned that while Jainas in the north are rich and follow commercial activities on a big scale, those in the Deccan are comparatively poor and are mostly agriculturists and petty traders. Sixthly, Jaina castes in the Deccan have their own Jaina priests and they do not employ the Hindu Brahmins for casremonial purposes as is done by many Jaina castes in the North. Seventhly, each of the four castes in the Deccan has its own Bhattaraka or re
ligious head or Svami who has final power to fine or excommunicate any caste member. J-92-94 The Major
जैन उप-सम्प्रदाय प्रमुख sub-sects The division of the Jaina church into two sects - Digambara and
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Svetambara was only the beginning to splitting the religion into various sects. Each of the two great divisions again got sub-divided into different major and minor sub-sects according to the difference in acknowledging or interpreting the religious texts. These major and minor sub-sects according to the difference is acknowledging or interpreting the religious texts. These major and minor sub-sects gradually sprang up for the most part on account of different interpretations the pontiffs put on the canonical texts from time to time. The Digambaras are divided into following sub-sects: (a) Major sub-sects: (i)) Bisapanthi.
(ii) Terapanthi
(iii) Taran panthi or Samaiya panthi. (b) Minor sub-sects:
(i) Gumanpanthi.
(ii) Tota panthi.
बीसपन्थ - The bi sapanthis worship the idols with flowers, fruits and sweetmeats. In their temples they keep the idols of k shetrapala, Bhairavaand other deities along with the idols of Tirthankaras. They perform 'Arati' (i.e., weaving lights over the idol) and offer sweetmeats (i.e. Prasa da) in the temple even at night. While worshipping they sit and do not stand. They