________________
APPENDIX 12
WHERE SHVETAMBAR TEXTS DIFFER FROM DIGAMBAR TEXTS
Note-Most of the facts about the life Bhagavan Mahavira are similar in these two sects of Jainism. The following table will bring out the difference between the two and that will give an idea about their distinct traditions.
DIGAMBAR TRADITION
mansion mansion consis
consisting ting of five of five stars) stars) Ruju- Rujuvalika valika
mansion consisting of five stars) Rujuvalika
35,000
36,000
36,000
1,00,000
1,00,000
1,00,000
900
900
900
SHVETAMBAR DIGAMBAR TRADITION
SHVETAMBAR TRADITION
TRADITION Harivansha Uttarpu Tuloy absolute en-lunar 1. Mother's Trishala Priya- Priya- Priya
lightenment mansion name
karini
karini karini
consisting
of two 2. Birth place Kundapur Kundapur Kundapur Kundalpur
stars) Kundalpur
11. Place of Ruju3. Constellation Uttara - Uttar. Uttar- Uttar absolute en- valika of descent falguni ashadha ashadha ashadha
lightenment 4. Date of The month Month of Month of Month of initiation of kartak Marga- Marga Marga
12. Number of 36,000 and the shirsha shirsha shirsha
female tenth day and the and the and the
ascetics of bright tenth day tenth day tenth day | 13. Number of 1,59,000 half ac- of the of the of the followers cording to dark half dark half dark hall (Shravaka) Jain cal according according according 14 Number of 700 endar to Jain to Jain to Jain
ascetics who calendar calendar calendar
could assume 5. Companion None None None One
different type at the time
of bodies & of initiation
forms
15. Number of Two 6. The first Chhattha Chhattha Atthama | Atthama mothers penance (Bela)
(Tela) (Tela)
16. Whether Yes
Yes 7. First break The home Bahula Kula Kula
transplanof fast of Bahula
tation of 8. The town of Kollaka Kunda
KulaKula
foetus took the first
pur gram gram
place break of
17. Whether Yes fast
married 9. The period 12 and a 12 years 12 years 12 years 18. When was First day of remain- half years
first
of iniing incog. and fifteen
discourse tiation nito days
19. Where was Pava 10. The constel- Uttara- Magha Magha Magha
the sucessful Madhlation at the falguni (tenth (tenth (tenth
discourse yama time of (twelfth lunar lunar lunar
One
No
No
No
No
No
Sixty Six Sixty Six Sixty Six days after days after days after initiation initiation initiation On the On the On the mount mount mount Vipula- Vipula Vipulachal chal
chal
Besides, there is difference about the design of the religious auditorium. The followers of Shvetambar sect believe that the preachings of Bhagavan Mahavira were rendered into alphabets while the followers of Digambar sect believe the same to be beyond alphabets (i.e. which can be explained by divine sounds alone.) as well as rendered into alphabets. The name of the Ganadharas (the spiritual teacher) also vary. There is no Devadushya. They keep the Chowrie and the Kamandalu in the initiation. They also differ about the annual charities and the anecdotes about Chandanbala. These two main branches of Jainism among the followers of Bhagavan Mahavira mainly differ about (1) absolute enlightenment and (2) emarcipation of women. Shvetambar traditions unanimously declare even today that even after attainment of absolute enlightenment, "Tirthankaras have to take food because of the remnants of a few past actions and that women can attain spiritual liberation while the main tradition of Digambara does not recognise the taking of food by those who have realized absolute enlightenment and the right of women for spiritual liberation.
Even the texts of Shvetambara branch differ about certain facts-e.g. the text Chaupanna Mahapurusha Charium mention that Bhagavan Mahavira had eight wives.
See Mahapurana -3 230 by Acharya Jeenasena.)
जैन सश्राविका
V
er
E
4 MY
उपाश्र्वनाथ
रामस्वामी
P
ower
INGEN
ओकत माछनो la
192
19.
10.
29.
2
9
1 Tutelar
en
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