Just as the Svetambaras have an account of how the Digambara/Svetamabara split occured so too do the Digambaras. In the Digambara version, there was a great famine in Northern India around 3BCE. Because of the famine, housholders were unable to support the begging monastics. As a result, the monastics moved to the south for 12 years. When the famine was over, the monastics returned to the north where they found an unusual group of Jain monastics wearing robes and carrying bowls.⁴ Regardless of the differences in the Digambara/ Svetambara versions of the split, we know that the split happened early and that by 5CE it was irreversible.

• Dress Codes: Digambaras believe that true asceticism involves the total rejection of all worldly goods and therefore Digambara monks do not wear clothes and do not own bowls.¹³

• Liberation of Women: In the Digambara sect it is not possible for women to reach moksa because they cannot walk naked and because they are himsic in nature.¹⁴

• Content of the Scripture: Disputes between Svetambaras and Digambaras over the sacred texts began in 3BC at the council of Pataliputra and continued until 501AD at the council of Valabhi. Although attempts were made, nothing was resolved.¹² Eventually each group declared its own sacred texts.

References

1. Dundas, Paul. The Jains.New York: Routledge, 1992. p.13.
2. Monius, Anne E. Lectures for RELH 314, The Jain Tradition. Spring Semester 2000.
3. Stevenson,J.The Kalpa Sutra and Nava Tattva.Varanasi: Bharat-Bharati,1972.p.35-39.
4. Dundas, Paul. The Jains.New York: Routledge, 1992. p.40-41
5. Shah, Natubhai. Jainism. The world of Conquerors. Sussex Academc Press. 1998. p.11-19.
6. Jash, Pranabanabda. Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Dehli. 1989. p18.
7. Jash, Pranabanabsa. Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India. Mushiram Manoharlal publishers, New Dehli. 1989. p.31-31.
8. Dundas, Paul. The Jains. New York: Routledge, 1992. p80.
9. Dundas, Paul. The Jains. New York: Routledge, 1992. p83.
10. Shah, Natubhai. Jainsm. The World f Conquerors. Sussex Academic Press, 1998. p6.
11. Dundas, Paul. The Jains. New York: Routledge, 1992. p49.
12. Jain, Muni. Jaina Sects and Schools. Concept Publishing, Delhi. 1975. p44-45.
13. Dundas, Paul. The Jains. New York: Routledge, 1992. p44.
14. Padmanabh, S.J. Gender and Salvation Delhi: Munshiram, 1991. p7.
15. Jash, Pranabananda. Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India. Munshiram Manoraylal Publishers. 1989. p22-25.