• Maharaj Sāheb (Maharaj)

- English sense: great king, or great respected monk. In Jainism it is a respectful honorific used for senior and revered monks. It is not a formal leadership title with specific duties, but a mark of high esteem for a respected elder muni. - How it’s used: you’ll hear elder monks addressed with this honorific, especially in social and devotional contexts.

• Ācārya (Acharya)

- Meaning: the head of a Jain order (the senior monk who leads the sangha and has authority to ordain monks and nuns, set rules for the group, and guide religious practice). - Duties: provides spiritual leadership, governs doctrinal matters, and has overarching responsibility for the conduct and training of the order. There are many Ācāryas in history, and different lineages exist in Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions.

• Key difference

- Maharaj is an honorific of respect for a senior monk (not a formal position with ordained powers). - Ācārya is a formal leadership title with specific duties and authority over the monastic order.

• Digambar vs Śvetāmbara note

- Both traditions recognize Ācārya as the head of a sangha, but the lineages and titles around leadership can differ by sect. The use of Maharaj as an honorific is common in both, but it remains a respectful title rather than a formal office.

If you’d like, I can share a simple, traditional explanation in the exact Sanskrit terms and point you to a related section on Jain Knowledge sources.