Do jains pray deities
Yes, Jains do pray and offer devotion, but not in the sense of asking a creator deity for salvation.
In Jain Dharma:
- Tirthankars are worshipped and revered as fully enlightened souls.
- Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and Sadhus are also honored.
- Deities like yakshas and yakshinis may be respected or prayed to for worldly support, protection, or auspiciousness, depending on tradition.
- But Jains do not believe that any deity can grant moksha. Liberation is attained through one’s own right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.
So, in short:
- Yes, Jains pray and worship.
- No, they do not worship deities as supreme creators or saviors.
If you want, I can also explain the difference between puja, vandan, and bhakti in Jainism.