Answer

In Jain tradition, the events of the Jain Rāmāyaṇa are understood to have happened in the time of the 20th Tīrthankar, Bhagavān Munisuvrata Swami.

At that time, people worshipped the Tīrthankars as God — especially Bhagavān Munisuvrata Swami, who was the living Tīrthankar of that era.

Explanation

Jain Rāmāyaṇa is not seen merely as a story of divine incarnation. In Jain Dharma:

• Rāma is regarded as a great noble soul and one of the 63 Śalākāpuruṣas.
• Rāma is classified as a Balabhadra — a non-violent heroic figure.
• Lakṣmaṇa is classified as a Vāsudeva.
• Rāvaṇa is classified as a Prativāsudeva.

According to Jain tradition, Rāma eventually renounced worldly life, accepted monkhood, practiced spiritual discipline, and attained liberation.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, God does not mean a creator God or an incarnation who comes to Earth. God means a liberated, perfect soul — an Arihant or Siddha.

So during the time of the Jain Rāmāyaṇa, spiritually minded people worshipped:

• Arihants — enlightened Tīrthankars who were present in the world
• Siddhas — liberated souls who had attained moksha

The central ideal was not devotion to a creator, but following the path of:

• Ahimsa
• Self-control
• Renunciation
• Karma purification
• Moksha

Takeaway

According to Jain tradition, the Jain Rāmāyaṇa belongs to the era of Bhagavān Munisuvrata Swami, the 20th Tīrthankar. People of that time worshipped the Tīrthankars, Arihants, and Siddhas as God, not a creator deity.