Who is worshipped in Jainism?
In Jainism, there is no creator god to be worshipped. Worship is directed toward liberated souls and enlightened teachers.
- Tirthankaras: The 24 enlightened beings who have shown the path to liberation. Mahavira is the 24th and most recent Tirthankara in this era.
- Arihants and Siddhas: Arihants are perfected souls who have realized their true nature but still live with the world’s vibrations; Siddhas are fully liberated souls who have shed all karma.
- Gurus/ascetics: Many Jains honor and seek guidance from revered monks and teachers who teach the Jain path.
- Yakshas and Yakshinis: Certain guardian deities associated with temples are respectfully remembered, but they are not creator gods or ultimate-rulers.
Important note:
- Jainism does not focus on worship of a supreme creator. The emphasis is on Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct to achieve liberation.
- There are differences in ritual emphasis between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions, especially in temple practices and certain devotional customs, but both honor the Tirthankaras and the path to liberation.
If you’d like, I can share simple verses or prayers that are commonly recited to Tirthankaras in Jain temples.