Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s6.1

c5.s6.1

Then we come to the epoch-making schism between the Śvetāmbara and Digambara sects of the Jains. The Digambaras maintained that absolute nudity is a necessary condition of sainthood which the Śvetāmbaras denied and held that the use of clothes does not impede the highest sanctity It may be noted that the history of the division in the Jain order into Śvetāmbaras and Digambaras is traceable to an early period of Jain religion. We have seen as to how Pārśvanātha allowed his monks to wear an under and upper garment,⁷⁴ whereas Mahāvīra preferred to go about naked, and this difference of opinion between the two Jinas probably developed into two great sects.