Jainism is an Indian religion said to have been spread by twenty-four spiritual masters known as tirthankaras. The community split into different sects shortly after Mahavira's death. In general, there are two major schools of thought in Jainism: Digambara and Svetambara. These are further subdivided into many traditions and sub-sects. This article will explain to you the Jain Sects/School which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Jainism

• Jainism is an ancient religion based on a philosophy that teaches all living creatures the road to emancipation, spiritual purity, and enlightenment via disciplined nonviolence.
• When Lord Mahavira promoted Jainism in the 6th century B.C., it became popular.
• Lord Mahavira was the final of the twenty-four great teachers.
• These twenty-four instructors were known as Tirthankaras, or those who had gained full knowledge (Moksha) and preached it to the public while still alive.
• Rishabnatha was the first Tirthankara.
• The term 'Jain' comes from the word jina or jaina, which means 'Conqueror'.
• The cosmos, as well as all of its constituents or beings, is everlasting, according to Jainism.
• With relation to time, it has no beginning or end. The universe follows its own cosmic rules and functions on its own time.
• Every material is constantly changing or modifying its shape. In the cosmos, nothing can be made or destroyed.
• The universe does not require somebody to generate or control its affairs.
• As a result, Jainism rejects the idea of God as the universe's creator, survivor, or destroyer.

Jain Sects/School - Historical Perspective

• The precise beginnings of Jainism's divide are unknown, in part because traditions about the schism's origins were produced to justify one sect's authority while demonising the other.
• The division of Jainism's Digambara and Svetambara sects is said to have started about the 3rd century BCE and was completed by the 5th century CE.
• According to Jain tradition, it had 14,000 monks and 36,000 nuns at the time of Mahavira's death.
• From the beginning, the organisation was prone to schisms over dogmatic details, which were easily overcome.
• A series of conferences organized to codify and preserve the Jain writings, which had remained as oral tradition long after Mahavira's death, most likely solidified the Shvetambara-Digambara distinction.
• In 454 CE, the Vallabhi Council was founded. During this meeting, Svetambara certified those works as Jain scriptures.
• The Digambara sect completely rejects these scriptures as fake. The split between these two principal Jain lineages was reinforced by this event in the 5th century.
• Monks and nuns should wear white robes, according to the Shvetambara ("White-Robed") sect, but a real monk (but not a nun) should be naked, according to the Digambara ("Sky-Clad"; i.e., nude) sect.

Digambara

• This sect's monks believe in complete nudity. Female monks wear unstitched simple white sarees, whereas men monks do not wear anything.
• The Digambaras believe that no one may reach perfection while wearing garments.
• Digambara believes that a man should refrain from food and belongings, including clothing, in order to become a saint.
• Women were likewise denied the right to salvation.
• The Digambaras are sure that redemption is only possible if one is naked.
• Women are considered to be unable to be saved because they are unable to go without clothing.
• No original canonical text exists now, according to the Digambaras.
• The Digambara sect is split into sub-sects as follows:
  • Bisapantha
  • Terapanth
  • Samaiyapantha
  • Mula sangh
  • Minor sub sects of Digambara school
  • Gumanapantha
  • Totapantha

Bisapantha

• Bisapantha adherents support Bhattarakas, or religious leaders who are also the heads of Jaina Mathas, or religious monasteries.
• In their temples, the Bisapanthas worship Tirthankara idols as well as Kshetrapala, Padmavati, and other deities.
• They worship these gods with saffron, flowers, fruits, sweets, and perfumed 'agarbattis,' or incense sticks.
• While executing these rites, the Bisapanthis sit on the ground and do not stand.

Terapanth

• Terapantha developed in North India in the year 1683 of the Vikram Era as an uprising against the Bhattarakas, i.e., religious officials of the Digambara Jainas, and their power and behaviour.
• As a result, the Bhattarakas' institution has lost favour in North India, although they continue to play a significant role in South India.
• In their temples, the Terapanthis place Tirthankara idols rather than Kshetrapala, Padmavati, and other deities.
• They also worship the idols with sacred rice known as 'Aksata,' cloves, sandal, almonds, dried coconuts, dates, and other green vegetables (known as sachitta things) instead of flowers, fruits.

Samaiyapantha

• Its adherents worship Sarnaya, or sacred writings, rather than idols; this sub-sect is also known as Samaiyapantha.
• Taranapantha is named after its creator Tarana-Svami, also known as Tarana-tarana-Svami (1448-1515 A.D.).
• Tarana-Swami died at Malhargarh, Madhya Pradesh, in the old Gwalior State, which is a major pilgrimage site for Taranapanthis.
• The Taranapanthis are staunch opponents of idolatry, yet they do have their own temples where they worship and maintain their sacred writings.

Mula sangh

• Mula Sangh is a centuries-old Jain monastic order. Mula literally translates to "root" or "initial order."
• The major Digambar Jain order has been Mula-Sangh. Mula Sangha is now associated with the Digambar Jain tradition.
• Mula Sangh is affiliated with the renowned Acharya Kundakunda. Mula Sangh first appears in print around 430 AD.
• Mula Sangh was split into several branches.
  • Nandi Gana
  • Sena Gana
  • Deva Gana
  • Simha Gana

Gumanapantha

• Pandit Gumani Rama or Gumani Rai, the son of Pandit Todaramal, an inhabitant of Jaipur, Rajasthan, is supposed to have formed this sub-sect.
• According to this Pantha, lighting candles or lamps in Jaina temples is completely banned since it undermines the core idea of Jaina faith, namely nonviolence.
• They merely visit temples to see the pictures and make no sacrifices to them.
• This pantha was regarded as shuddha amnaya, which means "pure or sacred heritage."

Totapantha

• Totapantha arose from distinctions between Bisapantha and Terapanth sub-sects.
• Many serious efforts were made to find a compromise between the Bisa (twenty) Pantha and the Tera (thirteen) Pantha, and the outcome was sadhesolaha (thirteen and a half)-Pantha, also known as 'Totapantha.'
• That is why, to varied degrees, adherents of Sadhesolaha Pantha or Totapantha believe in Bisapantha and Terapanth beliefs.

Svetambaras

• The Svetambaras have saved a large quantity of ancient texts.
• The precise translation is "white clad." Total nudity is not essential for salvation, according to Shvetambaras.
• They represent the Jainas who stayed in Magadha during the famine, led by Sthulabahu.
• According to Shvetambara tradition, omniscience requires nourishment.
• Women are spiritually capable of reaching the same heights as men.
• According to Shvetambara tradition, the 19th Tirthankara is a woman named Mali (the only female Tirthankara).
• In the Shvetambara tradition, Tirthankara is represented wearing a loincloth encrusted with diamonds and with glass eyes embedded in the marble.
• The Shvetambaras refer to hagiographies as "charita."
• Subsects of Svetambaras:
  • Murtipujak
  • Sthanakvasi
  • Terapanthi

Murtipujak

• Murtipujak Svetambaras are the Svetambaras' original stock because they are devout idol worshipers.
• They dress their idols in fine robes and jewelled decorations and present them with flowers, fruits, saffron, and other tributes.
• When they talk, their ascetics cover their lips with strips of cloth; otherwise, they retain them in their hands.
• They dwell in temples or particularly specified structures called as upasrayas.

Sthanakvasi

• The Sthanakvasi were reformers of an older reformist group, the Jain Lonka sect, rather than direct descendants of the Svetambaras.
• Dhundhiya (searchers) and Sadhumargi are other names for Sthanakvasi (followers of Sadhus, i.e., ascetics).
• Sthanakvasi are quite identical to other Svetambara Jainas, with the exception of idol worship, and they now usually identify themselves as Svetambara Sthanakvasi.
• The Sthanakvasi have no faith in idols. As a result, they lack temples and instead rely on sthanakas, or prayer halls, to perform religious fasts, festivals, rituals, prayers, talks, and so on.

Terapanthi

• The Terapanthi sub-section is formed by the Sthanakvasi section.
• Swami Bhikkanaji Maharaj established the Terapanthi sect.
• Swami Bhikkanaji was a Sthanakvasi saint who was initiated by Acharya Raghunatha.
• Swami Bhikkanaji had issues with his Guru over numerous parts of Sthanakvasi ascetic religious practises, and when these grew serious, he established Terapanth on the full-moon day of Asadha in the year V.S. 1817, i.e. 1760 A.D.
• The Terapanthis are non-idolatrous and highly organised, with a single Acharya, or religious leader, in control of everything.

Difference between Digambaras and Svetambaras

Conclusion

Jainism is a philosophy-based ancient religion that teaches all living creatures the path to freedom. The constant and periodic changes and debates concerning doctrine and practices among Indian religious traditions have been one of their distinguishing features. Jainism was no exception. During Mahavira's lifetime, there were several debates on the finer nuances of his teachings. Some of his followers publicly disagreed with him, resulting in the formation of their own sects.

FAQs

Question. What are the two major sects of Jainism?

Question. What is the main difference between Digambara and Svetambara sects?

Question. Who was the founder of Jainism?

Question. What is the role of Tirthankaras in Jainism?

Question. What is the significance of the Jain philosophy of non-violence?

MCQs

1. Who was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism?

A) Rishabhanatha

B) Mahavira

C) Parshvanatha

D) Shantinatha

2. Which of the following is a key difference between the Digambara and Svetambara sects?

A) The number of Tirthankaras recognized

B) The mode of dress of monks

C) The practice of meditation

D) The geographical spread of the sects

3. What is the Jain principle of Ahimsa?

A) Non-violence

B) Truth

C) Austerity

D) Compassion

4. Which Tirthankara is considered the first in Jainism?

A) Mahavira

B) Parshvanatha

C) Rishabhanatha

D) Shantinatha

5. Which of these Jain sects believes that monks must go without clothes?

A) Svetambara

B) Digambara

C) Both

D) Neither

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the major differences between the Digambara and Svetambara sects of Jainism.

Answer: The Jain religion is divided into two major sects: Digambara and Svetambara, which differ in several aspects of practice and belief. One of the most prominent differences is the attire of the monks: Digambara monks do not wear clothes as a symbol of renunciation, while Svetambara monks wear white clothes. Another difference lies in their scriptures and the number of Tirthankaras they recognize. The Digambara sect does not accept the presence of women in spiritual leadership roles, whereas Svetambara sect allows women to become nuns. Despite these differences, both sects share the core Jain principles of non-violence (Ahimsa), non-possessiveness (Aparigraha), and the pursuit of liberation through right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct.

Q2: Explain the significance of Lord Mahavira in the context of Jainism.

Answer: Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, is considered the most prominent figure in the religion. His teachings, which emphasize non-violence, truth, and asceticism, form the foundation of Jain philosophy. Mahavira's enlightenment led to the propagation of the religion, making it distinct from other religious traditions of his time. He revitalized Jainism, promoting a path to spiritual liberation through self-discipline, meditation, and ethical living. His teachings also laid the foundation for Jain ethics, which includes strict adherence to non-violence (Ahimsa) and non-possessiveness (Aparigraha), both of which are central to the Jain way of life.

Q3: Analyze the impact of Jainism on Indian culture and society.

Answer: Jainism has had a profound impact on Indian culture and society, influencing religious, social, and cultural practices. Its emphasis on non-violence (Ahimsa) contributed to the development of vegetarianism as a cultural norm in various parts of India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Jainism also influenced Indian art, architecture, and literature, with the construction of temples, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the promotion of Jain philosophy in various texts. The religion’s strict code of ethics has contributed to the development of a non-violent and peaceful ethos in Indian society. Moreover, Jainism has played a significant role in shaping Indian economics, with Jain communities historically being involved in trade and commerce due to their emphasis on honesty and financial integrity.

Previous Year Questions on Jain Sects

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Question: "Discuss the principles of Jainism and their influence on Indian society."

Answer: Jainism is based on principles such as non-violence (Ahimsa), non-possessiveness (Aparigraha), and self-discipline. These principles have influenced Indian society significantly, particularly in terms of dietary habits, as Jainism advocates vegetarianism and respect for all living beings. The emphasis on Ahimsa contributed to the widespread adoption of non-violent practices and pacifism in Indian culture. Jain communities have also played a crucial role in commerce and trade, emphasizing honesty, integrity, and fair dealings.

2. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: "Explain the historical development of Jain sects and their religious practices."

Answer: Jainism evolved through the teachings of 24 Tirthankaras, with Lord Mahavira being the last and most prominent. The religion split into two major sects: Digambara and Svetambara. Digambara sect, founded on more rigorous ascetic practices, rejects the role of women in spiritual leadership and emphasizes the complete renunciation of worldly possessions, including clothing. The Svetambara sect, while still adhering to Jainism's core principles, allows women to take monastic vows and maintains a more flexible interpretation of ascetic practices. Both sects follow the basic principles of Jainism, but their differing practices and beliefs have influenced their respective communities over time.