In Jainism, the idea of “gods” is different from many other religions.

1) Highest beings in Jainism

The highest spiritual beings are Siddhas.

• A Siddha is a soul that has completely destroyed karma.
• It is free from birth and death.
• It lives forever in a pure, blissful, formless state at the top of the universe.

Next are the Arihantas:

• They are still living in a body.
• They have destroyed the main karmas that bind the soul.
• They are omniscient and perfect teachers.
• After their body ends, they become Siddhas.

So, in Jainism, the highest beings are not creator gods. They are liberated souls.

2) Devas and heavenly beings

Jainism does accept devas and devis:

• These are heavenly beings.
• They have more power, beauty, and long life than humans.
• But they are still not liberated.
• They are still within the cycle of birth and death.

So devas are respected, but they are not the final goal.

3) Lokas in Jainism

The Jain universe is called the loka.

It has three main parts:

A. Upper world

• Home of heavenly beings.
• Contains many heavenly realms.

B. Middle world

• Where humans, animals, plants, and many beings live.
• This is the world where liberation is possible.
• Human birth is considered very valuable because it allows spiritual progress.

C. Lower world

• Home of hellish beings.
• Souls here experience suffering due to severe karma.

Above all these is the realm of the Siddhas, called the Siddhashila or Moksha-state at the top of the universe.

4) Post-death in Jainism

After death, a soul does not disappear.

What happens depends on karma:

If karma remains:

The soul is reborn in one of the following:

• human realm
• animal/plant realm
• heavenly realm
• hellish realm

If all karmas are destroyed:

The soul becomes a Siddha:

• no rebirth
• no body
• no pain
• no attachment
• eternal knowledge, perception, bliss, and power in pure form

5) Core Jain view

Jainism teaches:

• Every soul is divine in potential
• Liberation is achieved by removing karma through:

- right faith - right knowledge - right conduct

• The highest worship is of the liberated and enlightened state

6) Simple summary

• Highest beings: Siddhas
• Living enlightened beings: Arihantas
• Heavenly beings: Devas, but not liberated
• Universe: upper, middle, lower worlds
• After death: rebirth continues unless all karma is destroyed
• Final goal: Moksha, liberation from all rebirth

If you want, I can also give you a very simple Jain universe diagram in words or explain the 14 gunasthanas and post-death journey.