Don't Shvetambar sadhus wear underwear?
Shvetāmbara sadhus (monks) and sadhvīs (nuns) do wear clothing. Their very name means:
- “Shvetāmbara” = shveta (white) + ambara (cloth) → “white‑clad”.
Standard practice:
- They wear simple, plain white cloth (not coloured or fancy).
- It is usually loose, modest, and minimal, just enough for covering the body with simplicity and decency.
- Exact details (type of wrap, how many pieces, etc.) can vary slightly by sub‑sect (Murtipujak, Sthānakvāsī, Terāpanthī), but all Shvetāmbara ascetics are clothed in white, not naked.
The “no‑clothes” (sky‑clad) ideal belongs to Digambar monks, not Shvetāmbara.
You can read a clear comparison of Shvetāmbara and Digambar practices here