In Jain Dharma, the answer depends on what you mean by “pray” and for what purpose. Let’s keep it very clear and simple:

1. Whom should a Jain mainly worship?

According to both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions:

• The true and highest worship is only of:

- Arihant (Tirthankars) - Siddha - Acharya - Upadhyay - Sadhus (Pancha Parmeshthi)

• Only these are connected to moksha (liberation).
• This is what Agams and main shastras like Tattvartha Sutra, Ratnakaranda Shravakachar etc. teach.

So, a Jain’s main bhakti and sharan must be only towards: Jinendra – Jin Shasan – Sadhu Not towards any worldly devi-devta.

You can read a related discussion here

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2. Are devi–devta, kuldevi, shasan dev–devi accepted in Jainism?

Yes, Jainism accepts:

• Devas & Devis as:

- Heavenly beings - Still in samsar (birth–death cycle) - Not creators, not givers of moksha

• Shasan Dev–Devi / Yaksha–Yakshini (e.g. Chakreshwari, Ambika, Padmavati, Dharanendra, etc.) as:

- Protectors and attendants of Tirthankars and Jain Dharma - Helpful for worldly protection, removal of obstacles etc. - But not the ultimate refuge.

Some families also have a kuldevi (often actually a Shasan Devi) as a family protector, by tradition, not from Agams.

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3. Is it allowed to pray to them?

Here it is important to distinguish:

(A) From pure Jain philosophy / ideal viewpoint

• Ideal Jain upasana = only Pancha Parmeshthi.
• Worship of lokik devi-devta (worldly gods, kuldevi etc. for money, success, fear, black-magic type expectations) is treated as mithyā-śraddhā (wrong faith), because:

- They themselves are not liberated - They cannot give moksha - Attachment to them takes mind away from Atma and Tirthankars.

So, ideal answer: A Jain should not take them as main refuge or believe “My life is run by this devi-devta; they will give me moksha.”

(B) From practical tradition among lay Jains

• In many Shwetambar and some Digambar communities:

- People do Shasan Devi / Yakshini / Kshetra Devata stuti for: - Protection of derasar / kshetra - Removing obstacles in sadhana - General protection & sukha with understanding that: - Real moksha giver = Jinendra only - Devi-devta are seva-dharma protectors of Shasan, not supreme.

Example: Kshetra Devta Stuti is recited in some pratikraman traditions, but even there, the central worship remains of Jina only.

So, many Acharyas allow:

• Respectful, secondary stuti of Shasan Devis with right understanding,

but they repeatedly stress:

• Do not forget that only Jina, Dharma, and Sadhu are the real refuge.

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4. Kuldevi specifically

• Concept of kuldevi by gotra is not from Jain Agams; it is more of community / family custom.
• If a Jain family does kuldevi puja:

- It should never replace: - Navkar Mantra - Jinendra Puja - Dharma sadhana - Do not think: “Kuldevi will cancel my karmas and give moksha.” - At most, see it as family protector, but atma-shraddha must stay only in Tirthankars.

You can read a related kuldevi discussion here

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5. Simple, safe guideline for a Jain

1. Daily, main bhakti

- Navkar Mantra - Jinendra, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, Sadhu bhakti - Swadhyay, Samayik, Pratikraman as per capacity.

1. If you do Shasan Devi / kuldevi / Kshetra devta stuti:

- Keep it secondary. - Do it as: > “You are protector of this kshetra / shasan; > may my mind go more towards Jinendra and true Dharma.” - Never believe they are ultimate controller or giver of moksha.

1. Avoid:

- Doing only devi-devta puja and almost no Jina bhakti. - Promises like “I will sacrifice X if my work is done.” - Fear-based beliefs (they will “destroy” if not worshipped).

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6. In one line:

A Jain may respectfully recite Shasan Dev–Devi or Kuldevi stuti as secondary, but true faith, main worship and refuge must be only in Tirthankars and Pancha Parmeshthi. Anything that replaces or weakens that is against the core of Jain Dharma.