can nuns become acharya in svetambara
In the Śvetāmbara tradition:
- By normal tradition and practice:
The title
Āchārya is almost always given to a
male monk. He becomes head of the whole saṅgh (monks and nuns) and holds the highest formal authority.
Senior nuns can get
high leadership titles, for example:
-
Gaṇinī / Gaṇinī-Āryikā / Pramukh Sādhvī / Mahāśramaṇī (names vary by sub-sect, like Terāpanth etc.)
These nuns practically
lead and guide groups of nuns, teach, and do many duties similar to a leader — but the
formal title used is not usually “Āchārya”.
- Rare / exceptional cases:
There are a
very few modern, special cases where a nun has been given the title
Āchāryā by her guru. But these are exceptions, not the standard, widely-accepted pattern across all Śvetāmbara gacchas.
So, simple answer:
- Scripturally, women in Śvetāmbara can progress spiritually fully (up to moksha).
- In actual monastic hierarchy, nuns normally do not become Āchārya; instead they become very senior leaders with other titles.
- A nun being formally called “Āchāryā” is possible but rare and controversial, not the usual Śvetāmbara system.
You can read a related explanation about female Āchāryas here