In Jainism, marriage (sanskar) is seen as a natural and supportive stage of life that helps individuals practice right conduct and progress on the path to liberation. It is not just a social contract but a framework for mutual growth, ethical conduct, and shared responsibility.

Key points about the husband–wife relationship in Jain thought:

• Duty and harmony: Both partners have duties (dharma) toward each other and toward their family, including truthfulness, non-violence (ahimsa), self-control, and mutual respect.
• Spiritual partnership: A good marriage is one that supports each spouse’s spiritual progress. This means encouraging ethical living, restraint of passions, and a shared commitment to non-violence and compassion.
• Equality of potential: Both husband and wife are considered capable of attaining liberation through right conduct. The path is individual, but a harmonious partnership can provide moral support.
• Non-attachment to worldly gains: While family life is valued, attachments should not lead to bondage or negative emotions. The aim is steady, ethical living that aids the purification of the soul.

Differences between traditions:

• Digambar and Shwetambar traditions have their own rituals and interpretations of certain vows and duties, but both uphold the core Jain principle that one should live a life of restraint, virtue, and non-violence within marriage.
• In both traditions, the emphasis is on developing inner virtues (like patience, forgiveness, generosity) rather than on external rituals alone.

What this means in practice:

• Truthfulness and fidelity are important; deception and cheating break ahimsa and harm the soul.
• Mutual respect, encouragement of virtuous conduct, and helping each other’s spiritual aims.
• Family life should nurture jaiva (the living soul) by minimizing harm to others, including spouse and children.

If you’d like, I can share concise quotes or concepts from Jain scriptures or point you to a specific Jain source that discusses duties within household life.