Here is a concise overview of Shvetambar (Śvetāmbara) Jain traditions, with note on common sub-sects and practices.

• Core view

- Śvetāmbara Jains generally follow Jain scriptures (Agamas) and place emphasis on ritual worship (puja) of Tirthankaras through images (murti) in temples, along with personal vows, fasting, and ascetic disciplines. - They typically practice monastic orders who wear white clothing (shvetambar means "white-clad") and nuns who take five great vows plus additional vows for celibacy and non-violence. - The Jain calendar is guided by festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti (birth of Mahavira) and Paryushan/Kalyanaka Parva, with regional variations in observance.

• Daily and seasonal practices

- Puja and darshan: Worship of Tirthankaras in temples with offerings, prayers, and mantras. - Sallekhana context: In extreme old age or severe illness, some Jains undertake voluntary fast to death (renunciation of life) as a spiritual practice, under strict guidelines. - Fasting and austerities: Common during Paryushan and other holy days; many Śvetāmbara communities emphasize purification, confession (samayika), and prayer (vidhi) during these periods. - Five vows (mahavratas for monks/nuns; often followed as householders’ vows too): non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy (for ascetics) or fidelity (for householders), and non-possessiveness.

• Typical temple life and worship

- Temples house idols of Tirthankaras; temple architecture and temple rituals can vary by region (western India, central India, etc.). - Murti puja is common, with ceremonial offerings, daily rituals, and seasonal processions in many communities.

• Key sub-sects and names you’ll encounter

- Murtipujak Śvetāmbara: The majority who perform idol worship and temple rituals with murti. - Terapanth: A disciplined reformist sub-sect emphasizing a highly organized monastic order, stricter codes, and prominent leadership under a senior monk; they also engage in temple worship but with a distinctive organizational style. - Sthanakvasi: Emphasizes meditation and ethical practice without idol worship in temporary or standalone places of worship; historically they avoided image worship in some contexts, focusing on meditation and sallekhana in simpler settings. - Digambar–Śvetāmbara dialogue: While both traditions share core Jain philosophy, Śvetāmbara differs from Digambar in canonical texts and some ritual expressions. Digambar generally emphasizes different scriptural traditions and, in some lineages, different practices around monastic attire and public worship.

• Festivals and rituals you might notice

- Mahavir Jayanti: Birth of Mahavira; processions and temple rites. - Paryushan/Das Lakshan: A major period of fasting, confession, and spiritual practice; results vary by community. - Navapad Oli or other local festivals: Regional celebrations honoring Tirthankaras and teachers. - Community service, charity, and ahimsa-focused activities are common across Śvetāmbara groups.

• Important note on variety

- Within Śvetāmbara Jainism, practices and emphasis can vary by region and by sub-sect (for example, the emphasis on murti worship, meditation styles, and monastic regulations can differ between Terapanth, Murtipujak, Sthanakvasi, and other Śvetāmbara groups). The spiritual aims—non-violence, truth, restraint, self-purification, and kevali or omniscient knowledge—remain central across these traditions.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific Śvetāmbara sub-sect or provide concise summaries of rituals and calendar dates for that group.

Note: I speak from a Jain-Dharma perspective and keep to traditional Śvetāmbara practices and terminology. If you want more detail on any particular sub-sect, rituals, or temple practices, I can expand.