Terapanthi

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Sects of Jainism Svetambara · Digambara Terapanthi · Early schools Sthanakvasi · Bisapantha Deravasi

Texts Navakar Mantra · Kalpasutra Agama (text) · Tattvartha Sutra Sanmatti Prakaran

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Terapanthi is a sect of Jainism which is very similar to the Sthanakvasi sect. Like Sthanakvasis, their sadhus and sadhvis (similar to monks and nuns, respectively) wear the muhapatti, a piece of cloth over the mouth, all the time, and the people reject the worship of idols. However, they believe that sadhus and sadhvis should only help fellow sadhus and sadhvis, and that saving an animal would make one responsible for any violence that animal would commit in the future. Acharya Bhiksu, the founder of the sect, further claimed that such actions would inevitably have personal interest as the main motivating factor, thereby increasing attachment. He believed that helping others on a worldly way, such as saving their lives or preventing a physical or worldly injury, is worthless because it does not lead them to spiritual advancement. Only religious and transcendental work, such as teaching others Jain doctrine, could help them. People following the Terapanthi sect can be Digambar Jains or Svetambara Jains.