How many divisions are there in Jain Community?

 

Jain community is divided into two sects, Digambar and Swetambar. The division took place in AD 79 or 82.  Swetambar means “white-clad” and refers to its ascetic practitioners wearing white clothes. Digambar means “sky-clad”, whose ascetic practitioners go nude. Swetambar sect was led by Sthulabhadra who was based in Magadh. The Swetambars cover their mouth and nostrils with mask to avoid the contact of germs and small insects during respiration. Swetambars do not believe in extreme penance and austerity. The Digambar sect was led by Bhadrabahu. The monks belonging to the Digambar sect do not cover their body with clothes showing their detachment from worldly pleasures. They are the orthodox followers of Mahavir and live an extremely austere life.

Shwetambars again divided into subsects (gaccha). They are Kharataragaccha founded in 11th century AD and Tapagachha founded in 13th century AD. Gacchas worshipped the idols of tirthankars which was not liked by a section of the Swetambar sects. Thus, a separate sect who were against idol woshipping, named Sthanakvasi was formed during 17th century (1653 A.D.). At the end of 18th century, Sthanakvasi underwent a schism, and founded Terapanthi sect under the leadership of Acharya Bhikshu. The Sthanakvasi and in particular, Terapanthi do not worship any idol but believe in the teachings of acharya or muni. But the Mandirpanthi were in favour of worshipping idols of the 24 tirthankars in the temple.

There is another minority Jain community, known as Sarak. The word sarak is derived from the original Sanskrit word Shravak. In Prakrit, shravak is pronounced as saraok. Saraks are Jain followers and many of them follow vegetarianism. Since Mahavir spent six years of penance in the Rarh region which comprises of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand, many local tribes came in close contact with Mahavir. Both Parsvanath and Mahavir visited different locations in eastern India for preaching their religion. Local people in this way were influenced by their teachings and became followers of Jainism. At present, the community belongs to minority society.  

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