Here is a very simple, Jain-dharmic comparison of Śvetāmbara and Digambara:
- Meaning of the names
- Śvetāmbara = “white‑clad” – saints wear white clothes.
- Digambara = “sky‑clad” – saints are without clothes (naked), symbol of total renunciation.
- Dress of monks and nuns
- Sādhus and sādhvīs both wear simple white clothes.
- Munis are traditionally nude (no clothes at all).
- Āryikās / women renunciants wear very simple clothing, but are not sky‑clad.
- View about moksha for women
- Women
can attain keval‑jñān and moksha in the same life, even in a female body.
- Classical view: a woman must first be reborn as a man to attain keval‑jñān and final moksha.
- Scriptures (Āgamas / texts)
- Accept their set of
Āgamas as preserved from Bhagwān Mahāvīr’s teachings.
- Do
not accept the present Śvetāmbara Āgamas as fully authentic.
- Give special importance to texts like
Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama,
Kaṣāyapāhuḍa, etc.
- Mūrti / idol form
- Jina idols often appear with a thin cloth or ornaments; eyes are usually open and prominent.
- Jina idols are completely nude, very plain, without clothes or ornaments; eyes often downcast, showing deep meditation.
- Monastic discipline and lifestyle
- Follow strict vows, but allow wearing clothes and some different rules in vihār, food collection, etc.
- Very strict on possession and movement; sky‑clad ideal, limited bhikṣā rules, very strong emphasis on austerity (tapas).
- Festivals and practice (only the main difference)
- Both celebrate Paryuṣaṇ / Das‑lakṣaṇa, fasts, pratikramaṇ etc.,
but
dates, rituals, and method can differ (for example: Samvatsarī vs. Kṣamāvaṇī day).
- What is common
- Accept the
24 Tīrthaṅkars.
- Accept
ahiṃsā, aparigraha, anekāntvāda, karmavād, and the path of
samyak‑darśan, samyak‑jñān, samyak‑chāritra leading to moksha.
- Aim is the same:
liberation of the soul from karma.
For a simple comparison written in easy language, you can read more here
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