Answer

Tapagaccha and Khatargachh — more properly called Kharatara-gaccha — are two different Śvetāmbara Mūrti-pūjaka Jain gacchas, meaning monastic lineages within the temple-worshipping Śvetāmbara tradition. ( jainpedia.org)

Explanation

• Tapā-gaccha: Jainpedia lists it as founded in 1228; its name emphasizes tapas meaning austerity, and it is described as the largest monastic order. ( jainpedia.org)
• Kharatara-gaccha: Jainpedia describes it as an 11th-century Śvetāmbara subsect, chiefly found in Rajasthan and Mumbai; its name means “sharp/harsh,” and it is associated with the Dādā-gurus. ( jainpedia.org)
• So the main difference is lineage, history, and monastic tradition. They are not two different religions; both belong to the broader Śvetāmbara Mūrti-pūjaka Jain world. ( jainpedia.org)

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, gacchas are ways of preserving monastic discipline, teacher-lineage, and practice. Different gacchas may have different traditions, but they share the same Jain aim of purity, restraint, and spiritual progress. ( jainpedia.org)

Takeaway

Tapagaccha is the larger, later-known gaccha centered on austerity, while Kharatara-gaccha is an older separate line known for the Dādā-gurus and a strong monastic identity. ( jainpedia.org)