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Jain perspective on women who renounce

• In Jainism, women can become renouncers (monks/nuns) in Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions, but the path and status differ between the two.

• Śvetāmbara (white-clad): Women can be fully ordained as nuns (often called sadhvis or bhikṣunīs in practice) and are believed to be capable of attaining liberation just like men. The nun lineage is established in their tradition, and female renunciants participate in monastic life and rites. You can read more in the Śvetāmbara context here .

• Digambara (sky-clad): Traditionally, many Digambara communities hold that women cannot attain the same monastic status as men in the current life and must be reborn as men to achieve full liberation. Female renunciants exist and are called Aryikas (or Aryikas/Sadhvis in some usage), but the path to moksha is viewed differently and is more restricted in practice within some sub-traditions. You can read more in the Digambara vs Śvetāmbara discussion here .

• Important note: There are regional and sub-tradition variations within Digambara and Śvetāmbara communities. Some Digambara groups recognize a form of female renunciation and ordination that is not equivalent to the male monk’s path, while Śvetāmbara communities emphasize the possibility of female moksha within their monastic framework. For a concise comparison, see this page: .

If you’d like, I can summarize how the terms sadhvi, aryika, and bhikṣuṇī are used differently in each tradition.