Here is a simple, Jain-dharma-centered explanation.

• The broom carried by monks and nuns (including Śvetāmbara and Digambara alike) is a small, hand-held broom used to sweep the ground before they walk. This practice helps ensure they do not accidentally tread on tiny living beings (like insects or mites) and thus uphold ahimsa (non-violence). It serves as a gentle daily reminder to be mindful of all living beings in one's path.

• The covering of the mouth (mukhavarana or similar) is another practice linked to restraint and reverence for life. By covering the mouth, practitioners reduce the chance of inhaling or spitting on tiny organisms, and it also fosters mindful speech and breath control. The tradition emphasizes protecting life and avoiding harm through actions as ordinary as breathing and talking.

• Differences between Digambara and Śvetāmbara:

- The core idea—sweeping the ground to avoid harming beings and covering the mouth to guard speech and life—appears in both Śvetāmbara and Digambara communities. - Some regional or textual variations may describe the specific form or materials of the broom and the exact practice of mouth covering, but the underlying purpose remains compassion I.e., ahimsa and care for all living beings.

If you’d like, I can provide more precise wording from Jain scriptures or describe any specific verse or stanza that mentions these practices in either Digambara or Śvetāmbara traditions.