Dev vandan means paying homage or offering reverence to the gods/devas. In Jain context, it is the practice of acknowledging celestial beings (devas) and seeking their goodwill or blessings before starting spiritual activities or rituals.

Key points:

• Devas are considered souls who have earned considerable punya (merit) and reside in the heavens; they are not the ultimate goal of Jain practice.
• Jain spiritual aim is liberation (moksha) through right faith, knowledge, and conduct, usually guided by the Tirthankaras and Jain scriptures.
• There are differences in emphasis between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions regarding devas: both recognize devas, but the ultimate devotional focus remains on the path taught by the Tirthankaras.

If you’d like, I can share a simple Dev Vandana verse commonly used in Jain practice (and explain its meaning), or point you to a JainKnowledge.com page for more detail.