• Idol worship (murti puja): In many Śvetāmbara Jain communities, especially the Murtipujak (idol-worshipping) group, temples have idols (murtis) of Tirthankaras and other deities, and daily prayers often center on worship of these images.

• Stānākavāsī practice: Stānākavāsīs are a Śvetāmbara subsect that rejects idol worship entirely. They do not have temples with images; instead they use prayer halls called sthanaks (or similar spaces) for worship, study, and discourses. Their emphasis is on living dharma and study rather than image-based rituals. They also follow distinctive practices such as wearing a muhapatti (face veil) to minimize harming small life and often recognizing a specific set of scriptures. ( nyjaincenter.org)

• Key difference in short:

- Idol-worshippers: temple idols, ritual worship of images. - Stānākavāsīs: non-idol worship, worship in sthanaks, emphasis on scriptures and ascetic guidance. ( prepp.in)

Note on traditions:

• Stānākavāsī is a non-idol-worshipping Śvetāmbara subsect; they are often contrasted with Murtipujaka Śvetāmbaras who perform image-based rites. Digambara traditions have their own lines and sub-sects, but the specific “idol vs. non-idol” distinction above is most commonly used to describe the Śvetāmbara Sthanakvāsī stance. ( britannica.com)

If you’d like, I can explain how this distinction appears in the practices of a particular community you’re studying.