Mahavir Bhagwan did not pray to any creator‑god or controller of the universe. In Jain Dharma there is no such God who has to be pleased or requested.

There are two stages to understand:

1. Before Keval‑jnan (as a sādhu / seeker)

Like all true Jain monks, Mahavir’s “prayer” was: - Deep meditation on the pure soul (ātmā) - Reverence for the Panch Parmeshti: - Arihants – enlightened beings - Siddhas – liberated souls - Āchāryas – heads of the Jain order - Upādhyāyas – scriptural teachers - Sādhus/Sādhvīs – true monks and nuns

This reverence is expressed in the Namokar (Navkar) Mantra, which bows to these five kinds of spiritually advanced souls, not to a creator-god.

1. After Keval‑jnan (as Tirthankar / omniscient)

- A Kevali like Mahavir is in perfect knowledge and bliss. - He does not need to pray to anyone; he abides in his own pure soul. - From that time, others pray to him, but he himself is beyond asking, fearing, or desiring.

So, in simple words:

• Mahavir did not pray to a God who runs the world.
• His “prayer” was bowing to perfected souls and focusing on the pure Self, mainly expressed through the Namokar Mantra and meditation.

You can read a simple overview of Bhagwan Mahavir’s life and teachings here: