Two main branches shape the landscape of Jainism, each with its own flavor and traditions:

1. Digambara (“Sky-Clad”):
   • Monks embrace complete nudity, symbolizing total renunciation.
   • Teach that liberation is unattainable for women in their current form—a hot topic for modern gender-equality conversations.
   • Rely on texts like the Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama, preserved through oral tradition before being committed to palm leaves.
   • Statues often depict Tīrthaṅkaras without clothing, holding rigid postures that emphasize austerity.

2. Śvetāmbara (“White-Clad”):
   • Monks and nuns wear simple white robes, reflecting purity rather than stark asceticism.
   • Hold that women can achieve liberation, leading to a more visible role for nuns.
   • Accept a broader canon, including the Agamas written down from the 3rd century BCE onward.
   • Temples showcase ornately bejeweled Tīrthaṅkaras seated in meditative poise.

Digambara and Śvetāmbara are two sides of the same coin, both cherishing non-violence and self-purification but diverging in practice and scripture. From within these larger umbrellas, several subsects add further variety:

• Sthanakavasi (a Śvetāmbara offshoot): Rejects idol worship to focus purely on meditation and ethics.
• Terāpanth (another Śvetāmbara reform movement): Emphasizes disciplined monastic rules and centralized leadership; recent gatherings in Delhi drew thousands to discuss ecological initiatives and vegan outreach.
• Bisapanthi and Taranpanthi (Digambara groups): Differ in ritual details, temple customs and the way monastic codes are interpreted.

These branches, despite spirited debates over dress code or the status of canon, stand united by a shared mission: liberation through non-violence (ahiṃsā), truth, and asceticism. Their diversity mirrors the modern world’s push for inclusion and dialogue, whether through international conferences on sustainable living or campaigns against factory farming. In a time when compassion is trending—the plant-based movement, climate activism—Jain sects offer an ancient playbook on living lightly and leaving a smaller footprint on Earth.