In Jainism, the “role” of husband and wife is understood mainly in terms of dharma (right conduct), not power or superiority. Both are spiritually equal souls (jīva), both are bound by karma, and both can walk towards liberation.

Below is a simple Jain view, applicable to both Shvetambar and Digambar traditions (social customs may differ, but basic principles are same):

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1. Spiritual status: husband and wife

• Soul has no gender. Man or woman is only a body and a worldly role.
• Both husband and wife are expected to follow:

- ahiṃsā (non‑violence) - satya (truth) - brahmacharya according to their stage of life (fidelity, control of passions) - aparigraha (limited possessions)

• In many Jain stories, ideal husbands (sat-purush) and ideal wives (sati) are shown side by side, both progressing spiritually (e.g. Sol Sati, chaste husbands and wives, etc.)

So spiritually: no higher–lower, only equal responsibility.

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2. Role of a husband (as per Jain values)

A Jain husband should:

1. Protect through dharma, not control

- Protect the family by right earning and right conduct, not by anger, ego or dominance. - Avoid any form of himsā (violence) towards wife – physical, verbal, mental.

1. Earn with honesty and restraint

- Earn livelihood with satya and ahimsa; no cheating, addictions, or occupations involving unnecessary killing. - Practice aparigraha – keep needs limited so that wife and children are not pushed into greed and show‑off.

1. Be a partner in religion

- Do sādhanā together where possible: pratikraman, swādhyāy, listening to pravachan. - Support wife’s spiritual activities: temple visits, paaths, upavas, tapas, etc., not obstruct them.

1. Respect and support

- Treat wife with sneha (affection) and maryādā (respect). - Help reduce her burden (house, children, elders) so she also gets time for dharma and rest.

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3. Role of a wife (as per Jain values)

A Jain wife (śrāvikā) is traditionally praised for:

1. Dhārmik support of the family

- Bringing shanti and saiyam into the home. - Encouraging non‑violence in kitchen, children’s habits, festivals, etc. - Many Jain “satis” are remembered exactly for this – keeping dharma alive inside the home.

1. Chastity and fidelity

- Being pativratā in Jain sense: controlling passions, staying loyal in body, speech and mind. - This is seen as strong brahmacharya and gives great spiritual strength.

1. Encouraging husband in right path

- Stopping him from sinful business, addictions, anger, wrong company. - Inspiring him for pratikraman, donations, anuvrats, etc.

1. Self‑sādhana, not only seva

- Doing her own sādhanā: paath, tapas, pratikraman, svādhyāy. - Many Jain nuns (sādhvijis, āryikās) and satis show that a woman can be a strong spiritual leader, not just a helper.

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4. Joint responsibilities (both together)

Both husband and wife should:

• Raise children in Jain dharma – teaching compassion, truth, respect for all life.
• Keep the house ahimsak as far as practical (diet, profession, entertainment).
• Avoid ego clashes – anger, taunts, insults, comparison with others are forms of himsa.
• Share decisions about money, education, care of parents/elders with transparency and simplicity.
• Give mutual freedom for spiritual growth – not pulling each other away from temple, svādhyāy, or tapas out of jealousy, insecurity or laziness.

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5. About “higher” and “lower”

• Jain dharma does not say “husband is superior soul” or “wife is inferior soul”.
• Different sects have different views on who can do which ritual (e.g. some Digambar maryādās about women and certain pujas), but:

- All agree the soul is equal. - Role differences are mainly due to social, physical and ritual rules, not because one soul is higher and one lower.

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In short

• Husband and wife in Jainism are two equal souls walking together on the path of dharma.
• Their main “role” is:

- to protect each other from sin, - to support each other’s spiritual progress, - and to make the home a place of ahimsa, satya and aparigraha.