Why digambar sect says women cannot attain moksh
In Digambar Jain tradition, the view is that a woman cannot attain moksha in that same female body. The reasoning is based on their doctrinal understanding of complete renunciation, conduct, and body-related limitations.
Digambar reasoning, in brief:
- A siddha must be completely free from all bodily attachment and limitations.
- Digambar texts/tradition hold that the female body has certain natural constraints that are considered incompatible with the fully naked ascetic ideal of Digambar munis.
- Therefore, they say a woman must first be reborn as a male and then attain keval jnana and moksha.
Important note:
This is the Digambar doctrinal position. In Shwetambar Jain tradition, women can attain moksha in female body.Jain philosophical context:
Both traditions agree on the most important point: moksha is attained through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, with complete destruction of karma. The difference is in how each tradition interprets the eligibility of the female body for the final liberation path.If you want, I can also explain the Shwetambar view or the scriptural basis cited by Digambar acharyas.