Modern Maharashtran Jain Communities
The native Jains of Maharashtra today are endogamous communiites and generally do not intermarry with the Jains who have arrived from North India. They are all Digambaras and are divided into four large communities:
- Saitwal, originally Tailors and Cloth Merchants
- Chaturtha, originally agriculturists, now engaged in various professions
- Panchama, various professions
- Kasara, traditionally coppersmiths
- Upajjhaya
- Kamboja
- Harada
- Dhakad A small Jain community found primarily in Western Vidarbha districts of Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Amravati.
Each of the four major communiites led by its own spiritual leader (Bhattaraka), who heads a Matha.
Immigrant Jains have a large population in Maharashtra. Majority of them are from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some of them are from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Some of these communities have been in Maharashtra for centuries, and are now indistinguishable from the native residents of Maharashtra. They are divided in following large groups:
- Agrawal
- Oswal
- Sarawagi
- Jaiswal
- Shrimali
- Humad
- Bagherwal
- Palliwal
- Porwad
- Bannore
Read more about this topic: Jainism In Maharashtra
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