Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s2.9

v2.c75.s2.9

A few words need be said here on the Digambaras and the Śvetāmbaras (between which Jains had divided themselves on differences of certain doctorinal schisms) in relations to their different modes of worship. In Pūja, the Śvetāmbaras use flowers, sweet, etc. The Digambaras substitute them for dry rice, spices etc. While the former decorate the images of the Tīrthankaras with earrings, necklaces, armlets and tiars of gold and jewels etc.; the Digambaras leave their images naked and unadorned. Thirdly, the Digambaras bathe the images with abundance of water but the Śvetāmbaras use very little of it. Fourthly the Digambaras may bathe and worship their images during night, the Śvetambaras do not even light lamps in their temples, much less do they bathe or worship the images. The fifth difference relates to the use of pañcāmṛita in washing the images, the Digambaras do it, and the Śvetambaras would not. This is what the orthodox Jainism stands for. In neo-Jainism, two new (comparatively modern) sects known as Lunkās (452 A. D.) and Sthānaka-vāsīs or Dhundiās (1653 A. D.) arose who stand for absolute opposition to image-worship The Arcyas of the Jains — Classes of Jain gods and goddesses :—On the authority of the Jain texts the classifications of Jain deities may be purviewed:—