Are jains allowed to follow shiva
Short answer: Jains typically do not worship or follow Shiva as part of the Jain path.
Key points:
- Jainism is non-theistic in practice: the core aim is the path taught by the 24 Tirthankaras, not worship of a creator God. Reverence is given to Tirthankaras and Siddhas, not to gods as supreme beings.
- Some Jains may show cultural tolerance or respect for Hindu deities in personal life, but following Shiva as a spiritual teacher or taking him as a primary religious guide is not aligned with Jain doctrine.
- There are differences in ritual emphasis between Digambar and Shwetambar communities, but both share the same Jain framework: liberation (moksha) is achieved by the Jain path, not by worship of Shiva.
If you’d like, I can point you to a JainExplanation page that discusses how Jain worship differs from Hindu deity worship.