Answer

Maheshwaris / Mahamwals are generally understood as a Jain community group identified more by social-community lineage and regional background than by Jain philosophy itself.

In Jain Dharma, the main religious divisions are usually:

• Digambar
• Shvetambar

Within these, there are further traditions and gacchas/sampradays. Communities like Mahamwal/Maheshwari are more related to caste/community identity, family origin, occupation, and region, not a separate type of Jain doctrine.

Explanation

Area-wise, such communities are often historically connected with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and nearby regions, depending on family history.

Caste/community-wise, many Jain families belong to traditional merchant or trading communities such as:

• Oswal
• Shrimal
• Porwal
• Khandelwal
• Humad
• Maheshwari / related groups in some regions

However, whether a specific “Mahamwal” family is Digambar Jain or Shvetambar Jain depends on that family’s tradition, temple practice, guru-parampara, and rituals.

Takeaway

“Mahamwal” is best understood as a community/caste or regional identity, not a separate religious sect of Jainism. To know the exact Jain tradition, check whether the family follows Digambar or Shvetambar practices.