Schools of Jainism as discussed by Harsh Kumar
Background
Jainism was flourished around the 6th century BC when Mahavira attained the enlightenment but this sect much older from that as there were 23 other tirthankaras before the Vardhman Mahavira. The word ‘Jain’ is derived from the jina or jaina which means ‘Conqueror’. After the death of Vardhman Mahavira, the Jainism also got divide in number of sects due to conflict of views among its followers. Out of these sects, the two major schools or sects are Digambaras and Svetambaras.
Also Read: Jainism – The Philosophy and Teachings
Rise of Heterodox Sects in Indian Subcontinent
Digambaras School
Digambara basically means ‘whose cloth is sky’. Monks of this tradition do not wear clothes as they believe in complete nudity because they treated sky as their clothes. But female monks wear unstitched plain white saree and are called Aryikas. They followed all the five constraints (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, and Brahmacharya) as per the teachings of Mahavira, unlike Svetambaras.
The main exponent of the Digambaras sect was Bhadrabahu who moved to Karnataka along with his disciples after predicting a long famine in central part of India, this led to divide in the Jainism. The earliest records of the Digambaras sect were contained in the Suttapahuda of Kundakunda, which is written in the Prakrit language. The Digambaras believes that women cannot be the tirthankaras and that Malli was a man. Monasticism rules are more rigid under Digambara sect.
Sub-Sects of Digambaras School
The Digambaras School have two major sub-sects:
Mula Sangh: the original community
Bisapanthi, Terapanthi and Taranpanthi: the modern community
Svetambaras School
Svetambaras means ‘whose clothes are white’. The followers to this sect wear the white clothes. Svetambaras follows the teachings 23rd tirthankara, Parsvanatha. Hence, they believe only four constraints given by Parsvanatha (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha) to attain Kevalya. Svetambara believe that the 23rd and 24th tirthankaras were married unlike thought of Digambaras.
The main exponent of this school was Sthulabhadra who stayed in Magadha while Bhadrabahu went to Karnataka due to conflict of views with each other. Apart from the having simple white clothing, they can also have a begging bowl, a brush to remove insects from their path, books and writing materials with them.
They believe that a tirthankara can be women and men, and say that Malli began her life as a princess. Svetambaras tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in existence: Soul (jiva), Matter(pudgala), Space(akasha), Motion (Dharma) and Rest (Adharma). But Digambaras followed six eternal substances with the addition of Time (Kala).
Sub-Sects of Svetambaras school
The Svetambara sect was divided into three sects that includes:
Sthanakavasi: They believe in praying to Saints rather than to an idol in a temple. The saints wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it unlike Murthipujakas.
Murthipujakas (Deravasi): They keep idols of the tirthankaras at their temples and worship them and the saints do not wear a muhapatti.
Terapanthi: They prey to saints rather than to an idol in a temple, like Sthanakavasi. Terapanthi saints also wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it.
Popular Practices under Jainism
Sallekhana – It is a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death while gradually reducing the intake of food and liquids. It is not considered as a suicide by Jain scholars because it an act of passion, nor does it deploy poisons or weapons. It can be performed by both for Jain ascetics and householders.
Pratikraman: in this process, the Jains repent for their sins during their daily life, and remained themselves not to repeat them. The five types of Pratikraman include Devasi, Rayi, Pakhi, Chaumasi and Samvarsari.
Auspicious Symbols Under Jainism
Swastika: It signifies peace and well-being of the humans.
Nandyavartya: It is large swastika with nine end points.
Bhadrasana: A throne which said to be sanctified by the Jain’s feet.
Shrivasta: A mark on the Jain’s chest which signifies the pureness of his soul.
Darpana: the mirror which reflect the inner self.
Minayugala: A couple of fishes which signifies the conquest over the sexual urges.
Vardhamanaka: A shallow dish used as lamp which shows the increase in the wealth, due and merit.
Kalasha: A pot filled with pure water signifies water.