An Outline of the Religious Literature of India c8.s3.5

c8.s3.5

§ 132. As a result of the long-standing difference of opinion within the community, the Jains at last broke into two sects, Śvetāmbaras and Digambaras, about A.D. 80³; so that for the full understanding of the history it is necessary as far as possible to distinguish the writers, books, and practices of the two organizations from this time onward. The main difference between them is the single point, that the Śvetāmbaras hold that monks ought to wear white garments, while Digambaras hold that they ought to give up all clothing. Necessarily nuns are found only among the Śvetāmbaras. The Digambaras explain that women cannot win release until a good life has brought them the privilege of being born as men; so that they need not become ascetics. There are other minor divergences. The great mass of Jains to the north of the Vindhyas were Śvetāmbaras, while in the Kanarese and Tamil districts they were nearly all Digambaras.