Shwetambar Terapanthis

Shwetambar Terapanthi is a sub-sect of the Shwetambar sect in Jainism. It was formed in AD 1760 by a religious leader named Swami Bhikkanaji Maharaj, who earlier belonged to the Sthanakvasi sub-sect. The name ‘terapanthi’ is believed to have been derived owing to the 13 religious principles proposed by founder, because ‘tera’ means thirteen and ‘panth’ means sub-sect. Some people however have their own versions regarding the origin of the name.

Members of the Terapanthi sub-sect do not believe in idol worship, rather they believe in meditation as a means of providing deliverance. They are headed by a single religious person called Acharya, whose orders are followed scrupulously. All the religious rites and ceremonies are performed under his guidance. Similar to the Sthanakvasi monks, monks in this sect also adhere to the custom of wearing white clothes, the only difference lying in the length of the cloth covering their mouth. This cloth is meant for preventing the microorganisms from entering the mouth, which may cause their accidental consumption.

The Terapanthi sub-sect is known for its single code of conduct and one line of thought. There is lot of emphasize on simplicity in religion. This can be seen in the absence of monasteries for the monks. The monks instead reside in the houses of the followers. This sub-sect, owing to its relatively new formation, is concentrated in small numbers in various cities in the country.