which is best digambar or swetambar ?
There isn’t a “best” among Digambar and Shvetambar. Both are authentic, long-standing Jain traditions that share the same core goals (moksha, kevala jnana, non-violence) and the same Tirthankaras, including Mahavira. The differences are mainly in practice, lineage, and canonical emphasis.
Key points:
- Digambar (Naked) monks: traditionally wear no clothes as a symbol of renunciation; some ritual and doctrinal nuances differ from Shvetambar.
- Shvetambar (White-clothed) monks: wear white clothes; have a different set of scriptures and slightly different ritual practices.
- Women: in Digambar lineage, full monastic ordination for women is generally not accepted in the same way as in many Shvetambar lineages; in Shvetambar communities, bhikshuni (fully ordained nuns) exist and play prominent roles in many centers.
- Scriptures: both traditions honor Jain teachings, but they differ in which texts are considered canonical and how they are interpreted.
What to do:
- The best path for you is to follow the tradition and guru you are connected with, and practice with sincerity.
- If you want to know the precise doctrinal differences for your own study, you can read the traditional explanations within each tradition and consult your elder monks or scholars in your local Jain center.
If you’d like, tell me which tradition you follow or are curious about, and I can share more specific, tradition-accurate points.