In Jainism, Mahavira did not teach that there is a single, all-powerful divine ruler who creates and rules the universe. The Jain view is that the universe is eternal and operates according to natural cosmic laws (dharma, karmic law, and the actions of beings). There is no supreme creator God who determines everything from outside.

Key points in this regard:

• The world and its laws are self-originating and governed by karma and the cycles of time; beings rise and fall due to their own karma, not because a god imposes it from above.
• There are gods and celestial beings in Jain cosmology, but they are not creators or ultimate authorities. They themselves are bound by karma and subject to samsara, though they may enjoy certain powers or long lifespans.
• The path Mahavira teaches centers on personal effort: right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct lead a person to kevala jñāna (omniscience) and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

There are differences in emphasis between Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions, but both traditions uphold that ultimate spiritual authority comes from inner realization and disciplined practice, not from an external, omnipotent creator.

If you’d like, I can share a concise sutra or teaching from Jain scriptures that expresses this idea more directly, or explain how Digambar and Śvetāmbara interpretations differ on gods and creation.