Adinath and shiva same?
No, Adinath and Shiva are not the same in Jain Dharma.
Very simple:
- Adinath / Rishabhdev
- Shiva (Mahadev)
Why people get confused
- Both are sometimes called “Adinath” (first lord) in different traditions.
- Both are linked with a bull in pictures:
- Some art shows both with matted hair, sitting posture etc., so from outside they may look similar. But in Jain view, they are completely different beings and concepts. ( jainknowledge.com)
Common Jain position (both Digambar & Shvetambar)
- Adinath = Rishabhdev = First Tirthankar of Jainism.
- He is not Shiva, not Vishnu avatar, and not any Hindu god’s incarnation. ( jainknowledge.com)