Jain monasticism Jain monasticism Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community. The term "nirgrantha" ("bondless") was used for Jain monks in the past. The monastic practices of two major sects ("Digambara" and "Śvētāmbara") vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. "Digambaras" use the word "" for male monastics and "aryika" for female monastics. "Digambara monks" are also called "nirgrantha" (without bonds). "Śvētāmbaras" use the word "sadhvi"s for female monastics. Historians believe that a united Jain "sangha" (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the "moksha" (liberation) of Mahavira. The community
Digambara monk most revered "Digambara" monks. Every Digambara monk is required to observe 28 "mula gunas" (lit. twenty-eight primary attributes) compulsory. These are also called root-virtues, because it is said that in their absence other saintly virtues cannot be acquired. They are thus like the root, in the absence of which stems and branches tuneless come into being. These twenty-eight primary attributes are: five supreme vows ("mahāvrata"); five regulations ("samiti"); five-fold control of the senses ("pañcendriya nirodha"); six essential duties ("Şadāvaśyaka"); and seven rules or restrictions ("niyama"). According to Acharya Samantabhadra’s Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra: The first vow of a Digambara monk relates to