Of Jaina Sect

Summary

The article ‘Of Jaina Sect’ by Francis Buchanan offers a descriptive account of the internal divisions and institutions of the Jaina religion at the turn of the nineteenth century. Buchanan explains that the faith is divided into two primary sects—the Śvetāmbara or ‘white‑clad’ and the Digambara or ‘sky‑clad’—which differ in monastic dress and practice, as well as further subdivisions such as the Tera‑panthī and Bīs‑panthī groups. He catalogs the extensive corpus of Purāṇas and Siddhānta texts that guide Digambara worship and recounts how Digambara monks once went naked in literal adherence to renunciation but later adopted minimal clothing. The author discusses the role of the spiritual guide or Srīpūjya, who is supported by the laity and assisted by Yatis, itinerant monks who perform rituals and maintain temples. Buchanan describes wandering ascetics called Saṃbegis, who live entirely on daily alms, and notes that Śvetāmbara householders often dispense with priests except for marriage ceremonies. He records the emergence of Bhājaks and Brahman priests in temple service and how many Swetāmbara rites—including marriage and initiation—became influenced by Hindu customs. Throughout the article Buchanan emphasises the organisational structure of the sects, the reliance on canonical scriptures, the varied duties of monks and priests, and the influence of regional practices on ritual observance. His ethnographic observations provide an early British colonial perspective on Jaina religious life, highlighting the resilience of Jaina institutions amid social change.