Parshvanatha "ganadharas", such as in the Digambara text "Avasyaka niryukti". They believe that Svayambhu was the chief male mendicant ("sadhu"). Svetambara texts such as "Samavayanga" and "Kalpa-sutra" mention Pushpakula as the chief female mendicant ("aryika", "sadhvi") among the female followers of Parshvanatha, whereas the "Digambara" text "Tiloyapannati" states she was Suloka or Sulocana. The "Nirgranthas" (fetter-less) monastic tradition started by Parshvanatha was influential in ancient India, with the parents of Mahavira belonging to it as lay householders supporting the ascetics. According to the "Svetambara" Jain tradition, Parshva and the ascetic community he established followed a Fourfold Restraint. In contrast, Mahavira stipulated
Jain meditation or non-Jains. It is important to note that these developments happened mainly among Śvētāmbara sects, while Digambara groups generally did not develop new modernist meditation systems. Digambara sects instead promote the practice of self-study (Svādhyāya) as a form of meditation, influenced by the work of Kundakunda. This practice of self study (reciting scriptures and thinking about the meaning) is included in the practice of equanimity (sāmāyika) which is the spiritual practice emphasized by 20th century Digambara sects. The modern era saw the rise of a new Śvētāmbara sect, the Śvētāmbara Terapanth, founded by Ācārya Bhikṣu, who was said to be