Digambara Terapanth Digambara Terapanth Digambara Terapanth is one of the sects of Digambara Jainism, the other being the "Bispanthi" sect. It formed out of strong opposition to the religious domination of traditional religious leaders called "bhattarakas" during the 12-16th century A.D, for the bhattarakas starting deviating from the original/Mula jain customs. They oppose the worship of various minor gods and goddesses. Some Terapanthi practices, like not using flowers in worship, gradually spread throughout most of North Indian Jainism as well. The Terapanthi movement was born out of the "Adhyatma" movement that arose in 1626 AD (V.S. 1683) in Agra. Its leading proponent
Bispanthi Vidyananda, Acharya Vardhamansagar, Acharya Vishudsagar are regarded to be Bispanthis. Acharya Vidyasagar, a disciple of Acharya Gyansagar, is considered to be a Terapanthis, even though Acharya Gyansagar himself derived his tradition from Acharya Santisagar. However most Digambar monks do not use actually use either labels. Aryika pramuk Gyanmati Mataji and her sangha regards itself to be representing Bispanth. Traditionally, Jains have had two prime sects of Digambara and Svetambara. They were further subdivided into others on their thought schools. Where Digambar Terapanth professes 13 ways, the Bispanthis professed 20 ways to attain liberation. ("Bis+panthi = Twenty+Follower of a way.") Bispanthi