how many kinds of jain are there?
In Jainism, speaking simply:
- There are two main kinds (sects) of Jains:
- Digambar – “sky‑clad” - Shwetambar – “white‑clad”
- Within these two, there are further sub‑sects. Commonly known ones are:
Shwetambar sub‑sects: - Murtipujak (Deravasi) – worship idols in temples - Sthanakvasi – no idol worship, simple halls (sthanak) - Terapanthi – strict, organized, non‑idol‑worshipping group
Digambar sub‑sects (traditionally listed): - Bisapanthi - Terapanthi (Digambar) - Taranapanthi - Gumanapanthi ( jainknowledge.com)
So, in summary:
- 2 main kinds: Digambar and Shwetambar
- And several sub‑kinds within each, as above.
You can read a simple explanation of the main Jain sects here