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
Religion in Africa now one of the most widely practiced religions in Africa along with Islam and is the largest religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most adherents outside Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are Roman Catholic or Protestant. Several syncretistic and messianic sects have formed throughout much of the continent, including the Nazareth Baptist Church in South Africa and the Aladura churches in Nigeria.There is also fairly widespread populations of Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses. The oldest Christian denominations in Africa are the Coptic church in Egypt and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, all Oriental Orthodox, which rose to