Aree hindu gods worshiped in jains
Short answer:
- Jains do not worship Hindu gods as creators or supreme rulers. The central focus is on the Tirthankaras (enlightened teachers) and liberated souls.
- Some Hindu-like deities appear in Jain contexts as guardian beings (yakshas/yakshinis) or in art, especially linked to specific Tirthankaras, but they are not worshipped as primary gods for worldly gains.
- In practice, many Jains may see or honor certain regional or mythic figures in temple imagery (e.g., Lakshmi, Saraswati) out of shared cultural heritage, but this does not place them above the Tirthankaras in Jain worship.
Key points from Jain sources:
- The core worship in Jainism is of the Tirthankaras and Siddhas, not Hindu creator gods. Devas exist in Jain cosmology but are not ultimate objects of worship. You can read more here.
- Jainism does not view Shiva or Vishnu as supreme, though they may appear as guardian beings in some narratives or temple contexts. The focus remains on the Tirthankaras. You can read more here.
Note on tradition differences:
- Digambar and Shwetambar traditions both center on the Tirthankaras; they may differ in some ritual depictions of guardian beings, but the fundamental view that the Tirthankaras are the focus of worship is shared.
If you’d like, I can point you to specific JainKnowledge pages that discuss yaksha/yakshini and their roles in Jain practice.