• Why the division happened (Śvetāmbara vs Digambara)

- The split grew over time after Mahavira’s era, not at one moment. Traditional Jain accounts link it to migrations during a severe famine in Magadha (around 4th–3rd century BCE) when Bhadrabāhu led monks south and Sthūḷabhadra stayed in the north. After the crisis, differences in ascetic practices and which scriptures were authoritative gradually hardened into two communities: Digambaras (sky-clad, stricter asceticism) and Śvetāmbaras (white-clad, more outward temple devotion). By the 5th century CE the two streams were well established in practice and canon. ( jainknowledge.com)

• Key differences in practice and beliefs

- Dress and renunciation: Digambaras renounce all clothing for monks; Śvetāmbaras wear white robes for monks and nuns. This is a main outward marker of the two traditions. ( jainknowledge.com) - Scriptures: Śvetāmbaras are associated with a canon codified at Vallabhi in Gujarat (5th–6th century CE), which they treat as authentic; Digambaras reject that Vallabhi canon and follow a different textual lineage. This scriptural divergence is central to their separation. ( jainknowledge.com) - Liberation and gender: Śvetāmbaras generally hold that women can attain moksha (liberation), while traditional Digambara views have held that women cannot achieve moksha in the present life and must be reborn as men (though many Jain groups work within their own frameworks on this topic). These doctrinal nuances are part of the long-standing differences. ( jainknowledge.com)

• Why there are more Śvetāmbaras in Palitana

- Palitana is in Gujarat, a region with a strong Śvetāmbara presence historically. The town hosts the famous Shatrunjaya temple complex, which is especially central to Śvetāmbara Jains (the main temple at Palitana is the holiest for Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka tradition). Over centuries, regional demographics and devotional centers tended to reinforce Śvetāmbara affiliations in this area. Digambar Jain presence exists there too, but Śvetāmbara influence is prominent due to geography, history, and temple associations. ( bhavnagar.nic.in)

• Simple summary you can keep in mind

- Both streams share the core Jain path (ahimsa, anekantavada, etc.), but they differ in monastic dress, accepted scriptures, and certain doctrinal points (including views on liberation for women). The difference arose gradually after Mahavira, solidifying in the first few centuries CE, with Vallabhi (in Gujarat) playing a key role for Śvetāmbaras. Palitana’s Śvetāmbara prominence fits its Gujarat location and temple heritage. ( jainknowledge.com)

You can read more here