Short answer Jainism’s core teachings stayed the same, but over time the community formed two main traditions—Digambara and Shvetambara—because of geography, famine-era migrations, and different rules of monastic practice and scripture preservation.

How it happened (simple timeline)

• c. 300–200 BCE: A severe 12‑year famine in Magadha is remembered in Jain tradition.

- A group led by Acharya Bhadrabahu (with the lay follower Chandragupta Maurya) migrated south toward today’s Karnataka. They kept very strict ascetic practices, including sky-clad nudity for monks and continuous wandering. Over time this line came to be known as Digambara (“sky‑clad”). - Monks who stayed in the north, associated with Acharya Sthulabhadra, permitted white robes and more settled monastic life during the crisis. This line developed as Shvetambara (“white‑clad”).

• 1st millennium CE: Text traditions crystallized.

- Shvetambara tradition says the surviving canonical Agamas were preserved orally and finally redacted at the Council of Vallabhi (Gujarat) around the 5th–6th century CE. - Digambara tradition holds that the original Agamas were lost; their key early works include Shatkhandagama and Kasayapahuda, forming their scriptural base.

Key differences (kept very brief)

• Monk attire and practice:

- Digambara: monks remain unclothed; strict rules on possessions and food collection. - Shvetambara: monks wear white robes; rules allow limited possessions.

• Scriptures:

- Shvetambara: accept a preserved set of Agamas. - Digambara: do not accept the Shvetambara Agamas; follow their own canonical texts.

• Women and liberation:

- Shvetambara: women can attain moksha directly. - Digambara: ultimate liberation requires a male birth; women follow the full path but attain kevalajnana/moksha after rebirth as a man.

• Images and temples:

- Digambara idols are nude, with very simple, unornamented form. - Shvetambara idols are clothed; in some sub‑sects ornaments and glass eyes are seen.

What stayed the same

• Both revere the same Tirthankaras (including Lord Mahavira), uphold ahimsa, anekantavada, karma theory, and the path of the Three Jewels (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct).

Later sub‑sects (just names)

• Shvetambara: Murtipujak, Sthanakvasi, Terapanth.
• Digambara: Bisapanthi, Terapanthi (distinct from Shvetambara Terapanth), Taranpanth, and others.

For an easy overview, you can read more here: