Know Buddhist Communities in India

Buddhism is an ancient Indian religion, which arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now in Bihar, India), and is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha who was deemed a "Buddha" ("Awakened One"), although Buddhist doctrine holds that there were other Buddhas before him. Buddhism spread outside of Magadha starting in the Buddha's lifetime.

Beda Buddhists

Bengali Buddhists

Bhotiya Buddhists

Bhutia Buddhist 

Bodh Buddhist 

Bugun Buddhist 

Chakma Buddhist 

Chugpa Buddhist 

Gurung Buddhist 

Khamba Buddhists

Khamti Buddhists

Khamyang Buddhists

Ladakhi Buddhists

Limbu Buddhist 

Lepcha Buddhist 

Lishipa Buddhists

Marathi Buddhists

Na Buddhist 

Rakhine Buddhists

Sherpa Buddhists

Tai Phake Buddhists

Tamang Buddhists

Tanchangya Buddhists

Regards,

Vishal Kodial 

Know Your Roots

Know Jain Communities of India

Jains are found in almost every part of India. There are different Jain communities in India. They can be divided into 9 major groups based on their linguistic diversity.

1. Rajasthani Jains - 

Marwad Jain's - Shwetambar

Dhundar Jain's - Digambar

2. Gujarati Jain's - Shwetambar

3. Bundelkhandi Jain's - Digambar

4. Marathi Jain's - Digambar

5. Kannada Jain's - Digambar

6. Tulu Jain's - Digambar

7. Tamil Jain's - Digambar

8. Malayali Jain's - Digambar

9. Hindi Jain's - Digambar and Shwetambar

There are two major types of Jains, namely Digambar and Shwetambar.

1. Digambar(Dik+Ambar): Meaning, whose clothes(ambar) are his directions(dik)

These are the type of Jains who believe that the only way to achieve salvation is to eliminate all the attachments of life. It is due to this belief that Digambara Monks do not wear any clothes. Comparatively digambara sect is more rigid than shwetambara.

Digambaras are further divided into

Beespantha

Terapantha

Taranpantha

2. Shwetambar(Shwet+Ambar): Whose clothes(ambar) are white(shwet)

These type of Jains do not shun clothes. Shwetambara monks wear a simple white clothing(dhoti). Followers of this sect believe that there is not sufficient evidence to support that Jains need to give up clothes.

Shwetambaras are further divided into:

Murtipoojaka

Sthanakvasi

Terapanth

Along with some differences, both believe in basic principles of Jainism and the nuns of both the sects wear clothes. Some Shwetambaras decorate the idols with Jewellery while Digambaras do not. Also, Shwetambara idols’ eyes are looking upward while Digambara idols’ eyes remain lower than the line of sight but not closed.

The Jain population in India according to 2011 census is 0.54% i.e. 4,451,753 (Males 2,278,097; Females 2,173,656) out of the total population of India 1,210,854,977 (males 623,270,258; females 587,584,719).

Jain Conversions:

1. Konkani Jain's - Married to yemanis, Arabs and turks invaders then Converted to Nawayati Konkani Muslims

2. Tulu Jain's - Married to Arabs and turks invaders then Converted to Beary Muslims

Regards,

Know Your Roots

By Vishal Kodial