Saitwal are Jains.

1. Who are Saitwal?

- Saitwal (also written Setaval / Svahitwal) are a Digambar Jain community, mainly in Maharashtra and nearby areas. - They follow Jain dharma, do Jain puja, follow Jain vrats, and accept the 24 Tirthankars.

1. Kshatriya–protector story

- Old Jain community‑tradition says that their ancestors were Kshatriya-type people who came to the Deccan to protect Jain munis and Jain tirth‑kshetras (holy places) from violent groups. - Because they protected “kshetras” (holy places), they were called something like Kshetra‑pāl → Setavāl / Saitwal over time. - While doing this seva, they lived among Jain munis and Jain sangh, and gradually became Jain śrāvaks themselves. So yes, in that sense they adopted Jainism many centuries ago.

1. Are they “outside” Jains who only protect temples?

- No. Today, Saitwal are fully Jain: - They take part in Paryushan / Das Lakshan, - Support Digambar munis and Jain temples, - Observe Jain principles like ahimsa, aparigraha, etc. - In Jain dharma, what matters is samyak darshan, samyak gyan, samyak charitra, not birth‑varna. Even if ancestors were Kshatriya, their present identity is Digambar Jain śrāvak community.

1. Summary in simple words

- Saitwal Jains are not Hindus who only guard Jain temples. - According to tradition, their ancestors were Kshatriyas who came to protect Jain tirths and then accepted Jain dharma. - For many generations now, they have been a regular Digambar Jain community.

You can read a bit more about Saitwal origin and community background here and here .