In Jain Dharma, “Dev – Guru – Dharma” taken together means the three main refuges of a Jain:

1. Dev (देव) – the Enlightened Ones

- In Jainism, Dev does not mean a creator God. - It means the Arihant and Siddha Bhagwan – souls who have destroyed all or most karmas and are full of infinite knowledge, faith and bliss. - We bow to them because they have actually reached the goal we want: moksha (liberation).

1. Guru (गुरु) – the True Spiritual Teachers

- This means Acharya, Upadhyay and Sadhu–Sadhvi who are truly following Jain vows. - They show us the path that the Tirthankars have shown. - We respect them not as ordinary people, but as living guides walking on the path of liberation.

1. Dharma (धर्म) – the Path / Teachings

- Jain Dharma = the teachings that lead the soul towards purity and moksha. - In short: Samyak Darshan, Samyak Gyan, Samyak Charitra (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct). - Practically, Dharma includes: - Non‑violence, truth, non‑stealing, celibacy, non‑possession - Vows (vrat), penance, self‑control, compassion, forgiveness, etc.

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All Together: What does it mean?

When we say “Dev – Guru – Dharma” together, it means:

• I take refuge in

- the perfect souls (Dev), - the true teachers who follow them (Guru), and - the pure path they have taught (Dharma).

These three together form a complete support system:

• Dev = the goal (liberated, perfect souls)
• Guru = the guide (who walks and shows the way)
• Dharma = the path itself

By keeping faith in Dev–Guru–Dharma together, a Jain decides:

• Whom to worship
• Whom to follow
• What kind of life and values to practice

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Digambar & Shwetambar view

• Both Digambar and Shwetambar accept Dev–Guru–Dharma in the same basic sense.
• There may be small differences in rituals or wordings, but the core meaning is identical:

- Dev = Arihant/Siddha - Guru = true Jain monks/nuns and acharyas - Dharma = path of Right Faith, Knowledge and Conduct

So, “Dev–Guru–Dharma all together” means taking full refuge in the Enlightened Ones, their true disciples, and their pure path, which is the heart of Jain spiritual life.