Short answer:

• The main division in Jainism is between the Digambar (sky-clad) and Svetambar (white-clad) traditions. They split over centuries due to differences in monastic practice, women’s ordination, and canonical literature, but both share the core Jain path and Tirthankaras.

Key differences in simple terms:

• Monastic dress and practice:

- Digambar: Monks are traditionally nude (sky-clad) and emphasize extreme renunciation. - Svetambar: Monks and nuns wear white clothing (white-clad) as a sign of renunciation but with visible clothing.

• Women’s ordination:

- Digambar: Generally do not recognize women as capable of becoming liberated monks in the same way; traditional monastic path for women has different forms. - Svetambar: Embrace the ordination of women as nuns and allow women to pursue monastic vows.

• Scriptures and canons:

- Digambar: Maintain a canon that is distinct from the Svetambar canon; they often reject certain texts accepted by Svetambar tradition. - Svetambar: Accept a broader set of scriptures and have their own canonical collections; they often regard some texts as authoritative that Digambar patrons may not.

• Beliefs about ancient Jain texts:

- Both traditions honor the 24 Tirthankaras, but they differ on the status and transmission of the ancient Purva (the ancient Jain scriptures). Digambar generally hold that many Purva were lost or inaccessible, whereas Svetambar tradition preserves a larger set of textual materials.

• Practical implications:

- Rituals, festival observances, and temple practices can differ between the two communities, but core ethical principles (ahimsa, truth, non-attachment, ascetic discipline) remain central to both.

A note on historical context:

• The split crystallized over many centuries as Jain communities spread in different regions and encountered varying social conditions. The two groups developed distinct monastic codes, devotional practices, and scriptural traditions while preserving the same foundational goal: liberation through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise, source-based outline in terms of Digambar and Svetambar differences (monastic rules, women’s roles, and canonical literature) with references from Jain texts.