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  • How to identify thrinkar followed by family
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    How to identify thrinkar followed by family

    7 months ago 170

    I’ll explain in simple Jain terms, and then you can see what matches your situation.

    I think by “thrinkar” you mean “Tirthankar” and you are asking:

    > How to know which Tirthankar / Jain tradition / panth my family follows or is connected with?

    In Jain Dharma there are a few different “family‑identity” ideas people mix together:

    1. Sampradāy / Panth (sect)
    2. Gacch / Sangh (monk lineage, mainly Śvetāmbara)
    3. Gotra (family/clan name in society)
    4. Kuldev/Kuldevi (family deity in tradition, not core Jain doctrine)

    I’ll go step by step.

    ---

    1. Which Tirthankar the family is connected with?

    Generally, Jain families do not have a fixed “this Tirthankar is our family Tirthankar” in scriptures.

    But in practice:

    • Many families emotionally feel closer to:
    - Adinath (Rishabhdev) – many old Jain business families - Parshwanath - Mahavir Swami - Or the Tirthankar whose image is oldest in their family’s main temple.

    To identify this in your family:

    1. Ask elders:

    - “Hamare ghar ya khandaan mein sabse zyaada kis Tirthankar ki pooja hoti hai?” - “Hamare kul ka mukhya dev / devi ya Tirthankar kaun mana jata hai?”

    1. Observe:

    - Which Tirthankar’s: - murti is in the home temple (ghar ka derasar / ghar ka jinmandir) - major family vows were taken in front of - family does special vrat / ayambil / pooja for every year (e.g., every year big Parshwanath pooja, or Mahavir Jayanti especially big).

    Remember: Spiritually, all 24 Tirthankars are equal Siddhas. Preference is emotional/traditional, not doctrinal.

    ---

    2. How to know which Jain tradition (Digambar / Śvetāmbara) family follows?

    Check these simple signs at your family’s main temple and home:

    Śvetāmbara (mostly Murtipujak, Sthānakvāsī, Terāpanthi)

    • Murtis usually in white clothes and crown, with eyes painted.
    • Temple has ārti with lamp and often mangal dīvo, puja with flowers, rice, dravya.
    • Sthānakvāsī / Terāpanthi: often no idols; worship in halls (sthānak), more bhaktāmbar, stavans, pravachans, white clothed sādhus, mouth‑cloth.

    Digambar

    • Jina murtis usually nude (dig-ambar), very simple, no clothes/jewellery, eyes often not painted.
    • Āchāryas & munis (where present) are digambar (nude ascetics); śrāvak follow them.
    • Pujā often more abhiṣek / jal pooja / dravya pooja, women wear specific odhni style in some regions.

    Ask in family:

    • “Hamare ghar Digambar paramparā hai ya Śvetāmbara?”
    • “Hamare guru / sangh kaunse hai?”

    This is the main religious identity, more important than gotra.

    ---

    3. Gotra – “followed by family”

    Many people actually mean gotra when they say “kiska hum follow karte hai”.

    • Gotra = family / clan name used socially (for marriage rules etc.).
    • It is not a spiritual level, not from āgamas directly as a doctrine.
    • Examples: Kothari, Khandelwal gotras, etc. (names differ by region).

    To identify your gotra:

    1. Ask parents / grandparents:

    - “Hamare ghar ka gotra kya hai?”

    1. Check:

    - Old wedding cards - Community records (samaj register) - Sometimes written in old family books (vanshavali).

    Gotra is used to avoid marriage within same clan, not to decide which Tirthankar you “must” follow.

    You can read simple explanations about Jain gotra here

    ---

    4. In Jain Dharma what really matters?

    From pure Jain view:

    • Most important is:
    - Samyak Darshan (right faith) - Samyak Jnān (right knowledge) - Samyak Chāritra (right conduct)
    • Not “which Tirthankar my family follows” or “which gotra we are”.

    You can respect your family tradition (temple, gotra, kuldevi, favorite Tirthankar), but for moksha, all souls follow the same path taught by all 24 Tirthankars.

    ---

    Simple checklist for you

    1. Ask elders:

    - Our Jain sect? (Digambar / Śvetāmbara – Murtipujak / Sthānakvāsī / Terāpanthi) - Our gotra / community name? - Which Tirthankar or temple is considered special in our family history?

    1. Observe:

    - Style of murtis, puja, dress of sadhus, and main vrat / parva the family gives most importance to.

    From that, you can easily know what your family follows in tradition, while remembering that spiritually, every Jina is equal and every soul has its own path to purity.

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