Aryika Aryika Aryika, also known as Sadhvi, is a female mendicant (nun) in Jainism. In the traditional Digambara tradition, a male human being is considered closest to the apex with the potential to achieve liberation, particularly through asceticism. Women must gain karmic merit, to be reborn as man, and only then can they achieve spiritual liberation in the Digambara sect of Jainism. This view is different from the Svetambara sect that believes that women too can achieve liberation from "Saṃsāra" by being mendicants and through ascetic practices. According to Svetambara Jain texts, from "Kalpasutras" onwards, Jainism has had more "sadhvis" than
Digambara the last of them being "Āchārya" Bhadrabahu. Spiritual lineage of heads of monastic orders is known as "Pattavali". Digambara tradition consider Dharasena to be the 33rd teacher in succession of Gautama, 683 years after the "nirvana" of Mahavira. The word "Digambara" is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "dik" (दिक्) (directions) and "ambara" (अम्बर) (clothes), referring to those whose garments are of the element that fills the four quarters of space. "Digambara" monks do not wear any clothes as it is considered to be "parigraha" (possession), which ultimately leads to attachment. A "Digambara" monk has 28 "mūla guņas" (primary attributes).