Jain schools and branches

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Jainism is an Indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twenty-four spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Broadly, Jainism is divided into two major sects, Digambara and Svetambara. These are further divided into different sub-sects and traditions. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is same.


Traditionally, The original doctrine of Jainism was contained in scriptures called Purva. There were fourteen Purva. These are believed to have originated from Adinath, the first tirthankara.[1] There was a twelve year famine two centuries after the death of Mahavira, the last Jain tirthankara. At that time, Chandragupta Maurya was the ruler of Magadha and Bhadrabahu was the head of Jain community. Bhadrabahu went south to Karnataka with his adherents and Sthulabhadra, another Jain leader remained behind. During this time the knowledge of the doctrine was getting lost. A council was formed at Pataliputra where eleven scriptures called Angas were compiled and the remnant of fourteen purvas were written down in 12th Anga, Ditthivaya by the adherents of Sthulbhadra. When followers of Bhadrabahu returned, there was a dispute between them regarding the authenticity of the Angas. Also, those who stayed at Magadha started wearing white chlothes which was unacceptable to the other who remain naked. This is how the Digambara and Svetambara sect came about. The Digambara being the naked ones where as Svetambara being the white clothed. According to Digambara, the purvas and the angas were lost. In course of time, the cannons of svetambara were also getting lost.[2] About 980 to 993 years after the death of Mahavira, a Vallabhi council was held at Vallabhi (now in Guajrat). This was headed by Devardhi Ksamashramana.[2][3] It was found that the 12th Anga, the Ditthivaya, was lost too. The other Angas were written down.[2] This is a traditional account of schism.[4] According to Svetambara, there were eight schisms (Nihvana).[5]

According to Digambara tradition, Gandhara knew fourteen Purva and eleven Anga. Knowledge of Purva was lost around 436 years after Mahavira and Anga were lost around 683 years after Mahavira.[6] The texts which do not belong to Anga are called Angabahyas. There were fourteen Angabahyas. The first four Anga bahayas, Samayika, Chaturvimasvika, Vandana and Pratikramana corresponds to sections of second Mulasutra of svetambara. The only texts of anga bahyas which occurs in svetambara texts are Dasavaikalika, Uttaradhyayana and Kalpavyavahara.[7]

Timeline of various denominations in Jainism


Digambar Jain monk

Digambara is one of the two main sects of Jainism.[8] This sect of Jainism rejects the authority of the Jain Agama compiled by Sthulabhadra.[9] They believe that by the time of Dharasena, the twenty-third teacher after Gandhar Gautama, knowledge of only one Anga was there. This was about 683 years after the death of Mahavira. After Dharasena's pupils Puspadanta and Bhutabali, even that was lost.[10] According to Digambara tradition, Mahavira, the last jaina tirthankara, never married. He renounced the world at the age of thirty after taking permission of his parents.[11] The Digambara believe that after attaining enlightenment, Mahavira was free from human activities like hunger, thirst, and sleep.[12] Monks in the Digambara tradition do not wear any clothes. They carry only a broom made up of fallen peacock feathers and a water gourd.[13] One of the most important scholar-monks of Digambara tradition was Acharya Kundakunda. He authored Prakrit texts such as Samayasara and Pravachansara. Samantabhadra and Siddhasena Divakara were other important monks of this tradition.[14] The digambara are few in numbers. They are present mainly in the south India. The oldest scripture that the digambara sect of Jainism believes is the Shatkhand-agama and Kasay-pahuda.[15] Digambara ascetics have only two possessions: a peacock feather broom and a water gourd. Digambar tradition is divided into two main orders Mula Sangh and the Kashtha Sangh. Among the prominent Digambara Acharyas today are Acharya Vidyasagar, Acharya Vardhman sagar, Acharya Vidyanand, Acharya Pushpadant, Acharya Devanand and Acharya Abhinandan Sagar.[citation needed]

Monastic orders[edit]

Mula Sangh is an ancient monastic order. Mula literally means root or original.[16] The great Acharya Kundakunda is associated with Mula Sangh. The oldest known mention of Mula Sangh is from 430 CE. Mula Sangh was divided into a few branches. According to Shrutavatara and Nitisar of Bhattaraka Indranandi, Acharya Arhadbali had organised a council of Jain monks, and had given names (gana or sangha) to different groups. The four major groups were Nandi Gana, Sena Gana, Deva Gana and Simha Gana. The Bhattarakas of Shravanabelagola, Mudabidri and Humbaj belongs to the Nandi Gana.

Kashtha Sangha was a monastic order once dominant in several regions of North and Western India. It is said to have originated from a town named Kashtha. The origin of Kashtha Sangha is often attributed to Lohacharya in several texts and inscriptions from Delhi region.[17] The Kashtasangh Gurvavali identifies Lohacharya as the last person who knew Acharanga in the Digambara tradition, who lived until around 683-year after the nirvana of Lord Mahavira.[18] Several Digambara orders in North India belonged to Kashtha Sangha. The Agrawal Jains were the major supporters of Kashtha Sangha. They were initiated by Lohacharya. Kashta Sangha has several orders including Nanditat gachchha,[19] Mathura Sangha, Bagada gachha and Lata-bagada gachha. The celebrated poet and pratishthacharya Raighu was a disciple of the Kashtha Sangh Bhattarakas of Gwalior. The rock carved Jain statues in the Gwalior Fort were mostly consecrated by the Kashtha Sangh Bhattarakas.

Digambara sub-sects[edit]

The terapantha subsect was formed by Amra Bhaunsa Godika and his son Jodhraj Godika during 1664–1667 in opposition to the bhattakaras. The Bhattakara are the priestly class of Jainism who are responsible for maintaining libraries and other Jain institutions.[20] The Terapanthi sub-sect among the Digambara Jains emerged around the Jaipur region (Sanganer, Amber and Jaipur itself).[21] Godika duo expressed opposition to the Bhattaraka Narendrakirti of Amber. Authors Daulatram Kasliwal and Pandit Todarmal[22]) were associated with the Terapanth movement. They opposed worship of various minor gods and goddesses. Some Terapanthi practices, like not using flowers in worship, gradually spread throughout North India among the Digambaras.[23] Bakhtaram in his "Mithyatva Khandan Natak" (1764) mentions that group that started it included thirteen individuals, who collectively built a new temple, thus giving it its name Tera-Panth (Thirteen Path). However according to "Kavitta Terapanth kau" by a Chanda Kavi, the movement was named Tera Panth, because the founders disagreed with the Bhattaraka on thirteen points. A letter of 1692 from Tera Panthis at Kama to those at Sanganer mentions thirteen rituals practices rejected. These are mentioned in Buddhivilas (1770) of Bakhtaram. These include rejected of Authority of Bhattarakas, Use of flowers, cooked food or lamps, Abhisheka (panchamrita), consecretation of images without supervision by the representatives of Bhattarakas, Puja while seated, Puja at night, Using drums in the temple and Worship of minor gods like dikpalas, shasan devis (Padmavati etc.) and Kshetrapal. The Digambara Jains who have continued to follow older practices are termed Bispanthi.

The Taranapanth was founded by Taran Svami in Bundelkhand in 1505.[24] They do not believe in idol worshiping. Instead, the taranapantha community prays to the scriptures written by Taran Swami. Taran Svami is also referred to as Taran Taran, the one who can help the swimmers to the other side, i.e. towards nirvana. A mystical account of his life, perhaps an autobiography, is given in Chadmastha Vani. The language in his fourteen books is a unique blend of Prakrit, Sanskrit and Apabhramsha. His language was perhaps influenced by his reading of the books of Acharya Kundakunda. Commentaries on six of the main texts composed by Taran Svami were written by Brahmacari Shitala Prasad in the 1930s. Commentaries on other texts have also been written recently. Osho, who was born into a Taranpanthi family, has included Shunya Svabhava and Siddhi Svabhava as among the books that influenced him most.[25] The number of Taranpanthis is very small. Their shrines are called Chaityalaya (or sometimes Nisai/Nasia). At the altar (vimana) they have a book instead of an idol. The Taranpanthis were originally from six communities.


Svetambara Jain monk

The Śvētāmbara (white-clad) is one of the two main sects of Jainism. Śvētāmbara is a term describing its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the Digambara whose ascetic practitioners go naked. Śvētāmbaras, unlike Digambaras, do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity. Svetambara monks usually wear white maintaining that nudism is no longer practical. Śvētāmbaras also believe that women are able to obtain moksha. Śvētāmbaras maintain that the 19th Tirthankara, Mallinath, was a woman. Some Śvētāmbara monks and nuns cover their mouth with a white cloth or muhapatti to practise ahimsa even when they talk. By doing so they minimise the possibility of inhaling small organisms. The Śvētāmbara tradition follows the lineage of Acharya Sthulibhadra Suri. The Kalpa Sūtra mentions some of the lineages in ancient times. The most prominent among the classical orders today are the Kharatara, Tapa and the Tristutik. Major reforms by Vijayananda Suri of the Tapa Order in 1880 led a movement to restore orders of wandering monks, which brought about the near-extinction of the Yati institutions. Acharya Rajendrasuri restored the shramana organisation in the Tristutik Order.

Svetambara monastic orders[edit]

The monks of Murtipujaka sect are divided into six tradition or gaccha. These are:[26]

Kharatara Gaccha is one of Shvetambara gacchas. It is also called Vidhisangha (the Assembly) as they follow secred texts literally.[27][28] It was founded by Vardhamana Suri[28] (1031). His teacher was a temple-dwelling monk. He rejected him because of not following texts.[27] His pupil, Jineshvara, got honorary title 'Kharatara' (Sharp witted or Fierce) because he defeated Suracharya, leader of Chaityavasis in public debate in 1023 at Anahilvada Patan. So the Gaccha got his title.[28] Another tradition regards Jinadatta Suri (1075–1154) as a founder of Gaccha.[28] Kharatara ascetics follow the sacred texts to the word. They follow basic Shvetambara canon and works of other Kharatara teachers.[27]

Tristutik Gaccha was a Murtipujaka Svetambara Jain religious grouping preceding the founding of the Tapa Gaccha by Acharya Rajendrasuri. It was established in 1194. It was known as Agama Gaccha in ancient times. The Tristutik believed in devotion to the Tirthankaras alone in most rituals, although offerings to helper divinities were made during large ceremonies. The Tristutik Gaccha was reformed by Acharya Rajendrasuri.

Tapa Gaccha is the largest monstic order of Svetambara Jainism. It was founded by Acharya Jagat Chandrasuri in 1229. He was given the title of "Tapa" (i.e. the meditative one) by the ruler of Mewar. Vijayananda Suri was responsible for reviving the wandering orders among the Svetambara monks. As a result of this reform, most Svetambara Jain monks today belong to the Tapa Gaccha.

Svetambara Sub-sects[edit]

A major dispute was initiated by Lonka Shaha, who started a movement opposed to idol worship in 1476. Sthānakavāsī is a sect of Jainism founded by a merchant named Lavaji about 1653 CE that do not pray to any statue.[29] The sect is essentially a reformation of the one founded on teachings of Lonka.[30] Sthānakavāsīs reject all but thirty-two of the Śvētāmbara canon.

Śvētāmbarins who are not Sthānakavāsins are called Murtipujaka (Idol-worshipers). Murtipujaka differ from Sthanakvasi Svetambaras in that their derasars contain idols of the Tirthankaras instead of empty rooms. They worship idols and have rituals for it. Murtipujaka monastics and worshippers do not use the muhapatti, a piece of cloth over the mouth, during prayers, whereas it is permanently worn by Sthanakvasi.

Terapanth is another reformist religious sect under Svetambara Jainism. It was founded by Acharya Bhikshu, also known as Swami Bhikanji Maharaj. Swami Bhikanji was formerly a Sthanakvasi saint and had initiation by Acharya Raghunatha. But he had differences with his Guru on several aspects of religious practices of Sthanakvasi ascetics. Hence he left the Sthanakvasi sect with the motto of correcting practise of Jain monks, eventually on 28 June 1760 at Kelwa, a small town in Udaipur district of Rajasthan state, Terapanth was founded by him. This sect is also non-idolatrous.[31][32][33][34]

As Acharya Bhikanaji laid stress on the thirteen religious principles, namely, five Mahavratas (great vows), five samitis (regulations) and three Guptis (controls or restraints), his sub-sect was known as the Tera-pantha (path of thirteen). In this connection it is interesting to note that two other interpretations have been given for the use of the term Terapantha for the sub-sect. According to one account, it is mentioned that as there were only thirteen monks and thirteen laymen in the pantha when it was founded.

Terapanth is very finely organised under the complete direction of one Acharya, that is, religious Supreme. In its history of little more than two hundred years, the Terapantha had a succession of only 11 Acharyas from the founder Acharya Bhikanaji as the First Acharya to the present. This practice of regulating the entire Pantha by one Acharya only has become a characteristic feature of the Terapantha and an example for emulation by other Panthas. Further, the Terapantha regularly observes a festival known as Maryada Mahotasava. This distinctive festival is celebrated every year on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Magha.

At present Acharya Shri Mahasharman is the supreme head. He is the Eleventh Acharya of Terapanth religious sect of monks, nuns, samans and samanis (a new rank between the ascetic and the lay – followers) following critical codes of disciplines.


Yapaniya was a Jain order in western Karnataka which is now extinct. The first inscription that mentions them by Mrigesavarman (AD 475–490) a Kadamba king of Palasika who donated for a Jain temple, and made a grant to the sects of Yapaniyas, Nirgranthas (identifiable as Digambaras), and the Kurchakas (not identified).[35] The last inscription which mentioned the Yapaniyas was found in the Tuluva region southwest Karnataka, dated Saka 1316 (1394 CE).[36] According to Darshana-Sara, they were a branch of the Svetambara sect, however they were regarded to be Digambara by Swetambar authors. The Yapaniya monks remained naked but followed some Svetamabar views. They also possessed their own versions of texts that have been preserved in the Svetambar tradition. The great grammarian Shakatayana, who was a contemporary of the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha (c. 817–877), was a Yapaniya, as mentioned by Malayagira in his commentary on the NandiSutra.


  1. ^ Shah 1998, p. 12
  2. ^ a b c Winternitz 1988, pp. 415–416
  3. ^ Shah 1998, p. 11
  4. ^ Shah 1998a, p. 72
  5. ^ Glasenapp 1999, p. 383
  6. ^ Winternitz 1988, p. 417
  7. ^ Winternitz 1988, p. 455
  8. ^ Singh 2008, p. 23
  9. ^ Singh 2008, p. 444
  10. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 79
  11. ^ Singh 2008, p. 313
  12. ^ Singh 2008, p. 314
  13. ^ Singh 2008, p. 316
  14. ^ Singh 2008, p. 524
  15. ^ Jones & Ryan 2006, p. 134
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  18. ^ "(International Digamber Jain Organization)". IDJO.org. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  19. ^ http://ndjains.org Narsingpura Digambar Jain Samaj
  20. ^ Sangave 2001, pp. 133–143
  22. ^ "The Illuminator of the Path of Liberation By Acharyakalp Pt. Todamalji, Jaipur". Atmadharma.com. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
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  24. ^ Smarika, Sarva Dharma Sammelan, 1974, Taran Taran Samaj, Jabalpur
  25. ^ "Books I have Loved". Osho.nl. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  26. ^ Flügel 2006, p. 317.
  27. ^ a b c "Overview of world religions-Jainism-Kharatara Gaccha". http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/index.html. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. Retrieved 27 November 2012. 
  28. ^ a b c d Glasenapp, Helmuth (1999). Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 389. ISBN 9788120813762. Retrieved 27 November 2012. 
  29. ^ Stevenson, S.: Heart of Jainism, p. 19
  30. ^ [1], Thane Jain Yuva Group.
  31. ^ Dundas, p. 254
  32. ^ Shashi, p. 945
  33. ^ Vallely, p. 59
  34. ^ Singh, p. 5184
  35. ^ "Yapaniyas". Jainworld.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22. 
  36. ^ Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs By Pandurang Bhimarao Desai, 1957, published by Gulabchand Hirachand Doshi, Jaina Saṁskṛti Saṁrakshaka Sangha