Jain schools and branches Jainism. Śvētāmbara is a term describing its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the "Digambara" whose ascetic practitioners go naked. Śvētāmbaras, unlike Digambaras, do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity. Svetambara monks usually wear white maintaining that nudism is no longer practical. Śvētāmbaras also believe that women are able to obtain moksha. Śvētāmbaras maintain that the 19th Tirthankara, Mallinath, was a woman. Some Śvētāmbara monks and nuns cover their mouth with a white cloth or muhapatti to practise ahimsa even when they talk. By doing so they minimise the possibility of inhaling small organisms.
Jain literature from the first "tirthankara" Rishabhanatha. The "Digambara" sect believes that there were 26 "Agam‑sutras" (12 "Ang‑agams" + 14 "Ang‑bahya‑agams"). However, they were gradually lost starting from one hundred fifty years after Lord Mahavir's "nirvana". Hence, they do not recognize the existing Agam-sutras (which are recognized by the "Svetambara" sects) as their authentic scriptures. In "Digambara" tradition, two main texts, three commentaries on main texts, and four "Anuyogas" (exposition) consisting of more than 20 texts are followed. These scriptures were written by great "Acharyas" (scholars) from 100 to 1000 AD using the original "Agama Sutras" as the basis for their work.