Svetambara

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The Svetambara (also spelt Svetambar, Shvetambara, Shvetabmbar or Swetambar) is one of the two main sects of Jainism, the other being Digambar. Svetambar literally means "white-clad", describing the practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from Digambar ("space clad"), whose practitioners wear no clothes.

Svetambaras, unlike Digambaras, do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity, or that women are unable to obtain moksha. Svetambaras maintain that the 19^th Tirthankara, Mallinatha, was a woman.

At present in Svetambara sect,there are 2,510 Monks and 10,0228 nuns, while in Digambaras there are 548 monks and 527 nuns (According to 'Smagra Jain chaturmas suchi-2006').

The Svetambara tradition follows the lineage of Acharya Sthulibhadra suri. Kalpasutra mentions some of the lineages in ancient times. From the Kottiya Gana, which was once prominent. The Svetambara monastic orders are branches of Vrahada-gachchha founded in 937 AD. The prominent among the classical orders today are Kharatara-gachchha (1024 AD), Tapa-gachchha (1228 AD) and Tristutik Gachchha.

A major disputes was initiated by Lonka Shaha who started a movement opposed to idol worship in 1476. Branches of this movement are Sthanakavasi and Terapanthi Shvetambara (1780) orders.

The major reforms by Acharya Rajendrasuri (1827 – 1906) in 1880, as the leader of the Tapa Gachchha, lead a movement to restore orders of wandering monks, that brought about near extinction of the Yati institutions. afterwords he restore shraman sanstha by "Tristutik" gachchha

Some Svetambara monks and nuns cover their mouth with a white cloth (muhpatti) to practise ahimsa even when they talk. By doing so they minimize the possibility of inhaling small organisms.

[edit] Svetamabara Sub-Sects

Svetambara is divided into two sub-sects, those practitioners who worship images in temples, known as the Murtipujak ("image-worshiping") or Mandirmargi ("temple-going"), and those who do not, the reformist sub-sects of the Sthanakvasis and the Terapanthis.

Murtipujak, Headed by various Acharyas as their sect and sub-sects.

In the Murtpujak sect there is 4 main sub-sects as follows-

- Tapagachchha-In Tapagachchha there is 21 sub-sect Heded by different Acharya
- Achalgachchha,currently lead by Acharya Gunoyadayasagar suri.
- Khartargachchha,currently lead by Acharya Kailash sagar suri.
- Parshwachandragachchha,currently lead by Acharya Vijay chandra suri.