Academic • General Digambars

The Digambars are one of the two major sects of Jainism, the other being the Shvetambaras, and their name literally means ?sky-clad,? symbolizing complete renunciation of worldly possessions, including clothing. Digambar Jains believe that true liberation requires absolute detachment from material objects, and therefore their monks practice nudity as an expression of spiritual purity and non-attachment. They hold that women cannot attain moksha (liberation) in their present form and must be reborn as men, a belief that distinguishes them from the Shvetambaras. Digambars recognize a different canon of Jain scriptures, emphasizing texts like the *Shatkhandagama* and *Kasayaprabhrta*, and they revere the 24 Tirthankaras, especially Lord Mahavira, as spiritual exemplars. Their temples, rituals, and iconography typically depict the Tirthankaras in nude form, reflecting their core philosophical ideal of renunciation and asceticism.