Which subsect is biggest..digambar, swethambar, stanakvasi etc
Among the main Jain groups you mentioned, if we look at overall numbers (worldwide, especially in India):
- Between Digambar and Shwetambar (overall sects)
- Shwetambar Jains are generally considered slightly more numerous than Digambar Jains, mainly because of large populations in Gujarat and Rajasthan. - But the difference is not huge; both are major, widespread traditions.
- Within Shwetambar sub‑sects
- Murtipujak (Deravasi) Shwetambar is the largest Shwetambar sub‑sect. ( jainknowledge.com) - Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi are smaller reform sub‑sects within Shwetambar.
- So, comparing all the names you gave:
- As a broad sect, Shwetambar (including all its sub‑sects) is usually the largest group. - As a specific sub‑sect, Murtipujak Shwetambar is bigger than Sthanakvasi or Terapanthi. - Digambar is also very large, but if you split Shwetambar into its three sub‑sects, then individually each Shwetambar sub‑sect is generally smaller than the entire Digambar community.
In very simple terms:
- Big sects: Shwetambar ≳ Digambar (both big).
- Within Shwetambar: Murtipujak > Sthanakvasi > Terapanthi (roughly, by size).
If you want to read more basic explanations of these sects and sub‑sects, you can see: