In Jain dharma, “śāśvat” means eternal – that which has no beginning and no end.

Jainism does not believe in one creator God who made the universe. Instead, the following are considered śāśvat (eternal realities):

1. Jīva (soul)

- Every living being has a soul. - Soul is beginningless and endless. - By nature it is pure, full of knowledge, faith and bliss.

1. Moksha-siddha (liberated souls) – this is what people usually mean by “God” in Jainism

- When a soul destroys all karmas, it becomes a Siddha. - Siddhas are perfect, omniscient, free from birth and death. - They do not create, control or punish, but they are ideal Gods – we worship them as the highest spiritual state we want to reach. - Once a soul becomes Siddha, it remains in that state forever (śāśvat).

1. Arihant / Tirthankar (while living)

- A soul who has destroyed inner enemies (anger, ego, deceit, greed) and attained kevala-jñāna (infinite knowledge) is called Arihant or Tirthankar. - While they live, we worship them as Bhagwan. - After death they become Siddha – then they are eternally perfect.

So, if you ask “Who is śāśvat God in Jainism?” in simple words:

• There is no creator God.
• Every soul is eternal, and
• Liberated souls (Siddhas) are the śāśvat (eternal) Gods we worship as the highest ideal.