When people say “Gujarati Jain” or “Marwadi Jain”, they are talking about region / language, not about Jain dharma types.

From the religious point of view, the main types of Jains are:

1. By sect (sampraday)

1. Digambar

- “Sky‑clad” tradition. - Monks do not wear clothes, symbol of complete renunciation. - Has its own set of scriptures and practices.

1. Shwetambar

- “White‑clad” tradition. - Monks and nuns wear white clothes. - Accept a different set of scriptures and have their own practices.

These two are the main Jain sects.

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2. Main sub‑sects inside Shwetambar

1. Murtipujak (Deravasi)

- Worship idols of Tirthankars in temples.

1. Sthanakvasi

- Do not worship idols, focus on meditation and simple halls (sthanak).

1. Terapanthi (Shwetambar)

- Non‑idol‑worshipping, very disciplined, under one Acharya.

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3. Common sub‑traditions inside Digambar

Names you may hear:

• Bispanthi
• Terapanthi (Digambar) – different from Shwetambar Terapanth.
• Taranpanthi
• Gumanpanthi

All are within Digambar Jainism, with some differences in rituals and emphasis, but same core Jain principles.

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4. By way of life

1. Shravak / Shravika – household Jains (family life, business, jobs, etc.).
2. Sadhu / Sadhvi / Muni / Aryika – monks and nuns who have taken full renunciation.

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5. By region / community (not dharmic difference)

Apart from Gujarati or Marwadi, you may hear:

• Rajasthani, Karnataki, Maharashtrian, Bundelkhandi, etc.
• Community names like Oswal, Porwal, Khandelwal, Sarogi/Sarawagi, etc.

These are social / regional communities, not different religions. They can be either Digambar or Shwetambar, idol‑worshipping or non‑idol‑worshipping, etc.

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In short:

• Main Jain types = Digambar and Shwetambar, with their sub‑sects.
• Gujarati / Marwadi etc. are just where the Jain families come from, not different dharmic types.

You can read a simple explanation of the main Jain sects and sub‑sects here: and about Shwetambar and Digambar here: