An Explanation and Evaluation of the Differences between Digimbara and Svetambara Sects with Regard to Creation, Reincarnation and Liberation of Women in Jainism

The problem of "the female sex", its appearance and rotation in “Samsara" and her liberation from this cycle are among the subjects discussed in Jainist religious texts. There is a relationship between human’s gender and liberation and in the Jain texts. The issue of woman's liberation has always been controversial for the two sects of Digimbara and Svetambara. Raising the subject of woman’s psychological- Karma and physical states, Digimbara regards woman as incapable of achieving liberation. But Svetambara believes that achieving the three Jewels of perfection in Jainism i.e. right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, are sufficient to liberate a man or woman in his/her present body. That is, since this issue is the main point of difference between the two schools of Svetambara and Digimbara, the theses of both groups include the arguments and debates between the two sects. Clearly, this study leads us to a new approach to the beliefs of this Indian religion with regard to the status of woman in their religious thoughts.