In Jain Dharma, it’s important to be clear about who we actually take as our spiritual refuge.

1. Jain view in simple words

- Jainism does not accept a creator God or a supreme controller of the universe. - Our main devotion (bhakti) is to: - Arihant / Tirthankar – fully enlightened beings - Siddha – liberated souls - And we respect Acharya, Upadhyay, Sadhu. - Hindu gods like Shiv, Vishnu, Durga, Lakshmi, Ganesh etc. are not accepted in Jain philosophy as creators or as our ultimate refuge. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Are there “gods” in Jainism?

- Yes, Jainism accepts devas (heavenly beings). - But they are also souls with karma, not perfect, not liberated, and not creators. They are higher than humans in pleasure and power, but lower than a Tirthankar in spiritual status. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. So is it “okay” to believe in Hindu gods also?

- From a Jain philosophical point of view: - You may respect all beings, including Hindu gods, as living souls (jiv). - But worship and main faith in Jain Dharma should be towards Arihant–Siddha only. - Regularly praying to Hindu gods as your main protectors or givers of moksha does not match Jain philosophy, because: - Jains do not seek moksha from any creator-god. - We follow self-effort, karma theory and the path shown by Tirthankars. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Why do many Jains also go to Hindu temples or worship Hindu deities?

- Often this is because of: - Family traditions - Local culture (same festivals, same area) - Our Acharyas explain that this is cultural mixing, not ideal from a pure Jain-darshan point of view. A Jain’s spiritual focus should remain on Jin, Dharma and Sangh. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Balanced, practical Jain answer for you

- Do not hate or insult any Hindu god – that itself would create paap (negative karma). - Keep clear in your mind: - “My true sharan (refuge) is in Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, Sadhu.” - If you have been worshipping Hindu gods due to family reasons: - Slowly strengthen your understanding and bhakti towards Tirthankars. - Make sure your main namskar, mantra, puja and faith are Jain.

If you want to read a bit more on this same topic in simple language, you can refer here