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  • what types of "Jains" are there, other than Gujrati or Marwari
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    what types of "Jains" are there, other than Gujrati or Marwari

    2 months ago 40

    When people say “Gujarati Jain” or “Marwari Jain”, they are talking about community / region, not about type of Jain dharma.

    From the point of view of Jain religion itself, main types are:

    1. By way of life

    • Śrāvak / Śrāvikā – Jain householders (family life, business, job, etc.).
    • Sadhu / Sadhvi (Śramaṇa) – Jain monks and nuns who have taken full renunciation.

    2. By main sect (panth)

    Across India (Gujarati, Marwari, Rajasthani, Punjabi, Kannadiga, etc.) Jains are mainly of two traditions:
    1. Digambar

    - “Sky‑clad” monks (no clothes, symbol of total renunciation). - Separate set of scriptures and some different beliefs (for example about women’s moksha).

    1. Śvetāmbara (Shwetambar)

    - Monks and nuns wear white clothes. - Accept a different canon of scriptures and have slightly different views/practices.

    3. Sub‑sects inside Śvetāmbara

    Common ones:
    • Mūrtipūjak (Deravasi) – worship idols in temples.
    • Sthānakvāsī – no idol worship, simple halls (sthanak), more focus on meditation and pravachan.
    • Terāpanthī (Śvetāmbara) – non‑idolatrous, very organized under one Āchārya.

    4. Sub‑sects inside Digambar

    Some known groups:
    • Bispanthi
    • Terapanthi (Digambar, different from Śvetāmbara Terapanth)
    • Taranpanthi
    • Gumanpanthi, etc.

    So, apart from Gujarati or Marwari (which are just regional communities like Kutchi, Rajasthani, Kanara, Agrawal, Oswal, Humad, Sarawagi/Sarogi, etc.), in dharma terms Jains are mainly:

    • Śvetāmbara (with Mūrtipūjak, Sthānakvāsī, Terāpanthī, etc.)
    • Digambar (with their own internal traditions)
    • And within each, householders (śrāvaks) and renunciants (sadhus–sadhvīs).

    You can read more in simple language here: Shwetambar & Digambar overview Sub‑categories of Shwetambar & Digambar

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    JainGPT by JainKnowledge.com is India’s first AI-powered platform dedicated entirely to Jainism. Here, you can ask any question related to Jain Dharma — from rituals and history to philosophy and daily practices — and receive instant, accurate answers rooted in Jain principles.

    Our Mission

    Our mission is to make Jain knowledge accessible to all, especially the next generation, through the power of technology.Whether you're a curious student or a lifelong seeker, JainGPT is your trusted digital guide for all things Jain.

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