Lord shiva and adi ayh
It looks like you’re referring to “Lord Shiva” and “Adi Nath.” In Jain Dharma:
- Lord Shiva is a deity from the Hindu tradition. Jainism reveres Arihantas, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and Sadhus; it does not accept a creator-god concept.
- Adi Nath (Rishabhdev/Adinath) is the first Tirthankara of the current time-cycle (Avasarpini) in Jainism. He is an enlightened being who showed the path to liberation, not a creator or controller.
Key distinctions (Jain perspective):
- Identity: Adi Nath is a Tirthankara (perfected soul). Shiva is a Hindu deity. They are not the same.
- Symbol/emblem: Adi Nath’s lanchhan (symbol) is the bull on the pedestal. This is different from Shiva’s association with Nandi in Hinduism.
- Iconography: Adi Nath is depicted in deep meditation (kayotsarga standing or padmasana sitting), serene face, no trident, no damaru, no third eye, no crescent moon, no snake ornaments. The focus is on inner purity and meditation.
- Teachings: Jain texts describe Adi Nath as the pioneer of civilization—teaching non-violence, truth, restraint, and basic arts of living—ultimately guiding souls toward moksha.
Digambar and Shvetambar notes:
- Both traditions equally revere Adi Nath as the first Tirthankara.
- Iconography differs slightly: Digambar images are nude in kayotsarga or padmasana; Shvetambar images generally have a simple cloth and may have distinct eyes. In both, the bull emblem identifies Adi Nath, and there are no Shaiva attributes.
For a simple overview of Adi Nath (Rishabhdev), see this brief explainer from JainKnowledge: Related: Ayodhya is revered as a Kalyanak Kshetra of Rishabhdev in Jain tradition: