3 thoy samudaay
3 thoy samudaay means the threefold Jain sangha (community) that supports a Jain path, both for lay followers and for ascetics. These three groups are:
- Sadhus (monks): men who have renounced worldly life and follow strict vows.
- Sadhvis (nuns): women who renounce the world and live according to monastic vows.
- Shravaks and Shravikas (householders): laymen and laywomen who follow Jain ethics in daily life.
Key points about this triad:
- All three groups together form the Jain sangha and work to keep the path of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct alive.
- The basic framework is shared by both major traditions, but there are differences in how the monastic orders are named and organized:
- The trio is connected to the core Jain aim of Ratnatraya (three jewels): right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.