Panch Parmesthi (five supreme beings) are the central beings revered in Jain devotion and daily practice. Here are the details:

• Arihant

- Meaning: A perfected soul who has conquered all inner passions (kama, krodha, lobha, moha, matsarya) and has achieved keval jnana (omniscience) but is still in the cycle of birth after becoming a liberated soul? Actually, in Jainism, an Arihant has conquered inner enemies and achieved keval jnana; they dwell in Siddhashila after attaining omniscience and, while still visible to living beings, no longer come into samsar. - Role: The supreme teachers and conquerors of inner enemies. They show the path to liberation and inspire the Jain sangha.

• Siddha

- Meaning: A liberated soul that has risen to Siddhashila after shedding all karmic bonds and no longer experiences rebirth. - Role: The ultimate goal of Jain practice; they dwell in Siddhashila and bless the world by their pure state.

• Acharya

- Meaning: The head of a Jain monastic order; the highest spiritual authority who preserves and interprets the Jain scriptures for the sangha. - Role: Guides monks and nuns, teaches discipline, and ensures proper conduct and study of the scriptures.

• Upadhyaya

- Meaning: A senior learned monk who teaches, explains, and preserves the Jain scriptures; often a direct link between the Acharya and the monks. - Role: Educates and disseminates Jain philosophy, logic, grammar, and ethical conduct; helps maintain doctrinal clarity.

• Sadhu

- Meaning: A Jain monk or nun engaged in the spiritual life, renunciation, and practice. - Role: Exemplars of renunciation and discipline; they inspire lay followers and carry forward the religious tradition through teaching, example, and steadfast practice.

• How they are worshipped

- In many Jain homes and temples, daily puja or prayer includes paying respect to the Panch Parmesthi, requesting guidance, and drawing inspiration from their qualities (detachment, discipline, omniscience, liberation, and service to the Jain community). - The emphasis is on right conduct (samyak achar), right faith (samyak darshan), and right knowledge (samyak jnana), as embodied by these five.

• Differences between Digambar and Shwetambar

- The basic framework of Panch Parmesthi is the same in both traditions: Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, and Sadhu. - The two sects may differ in details about lineage, titles, and specific practices of monastic order, but the five categories themselves are shared and revered in both traditions.

If you’d like, I can provide brief Sanskrit terms with their exact script and traditional meanings as found in Jain scriptures, or point you to a Jain Knowledge page that discusses Panch Parmesthi in more depth.