What is the deity in Jain temple?

In Jain temples, there isn’t a creator deity like in some other traditions. The main focus is on the Tirthankaras—enlightened teachers who have shown the path to liberation. The temple houses idols (murti) of the Tirthankaras, and these images serve as focal points for meditation, reverence, and spiritual practice.

Key points:

• The principal deities are the 24 Tirthankaras (e.g., Rishabhanatha, Parshvanatha, Mahavira, etc.).
• The idol represents the Tirthankara’s ideal and is not worshiped as a god who creates or rules the world.
• Practices and the arrangement of idols can vary slightly between sects:

- Shwetambar temples typically have multiple Tirthankara idols in the main shrine. - Digambar temples often emphasize the main Tirthankara image (often Mahavira) with other Tirthankaras nearby, but still focus on the same 24 Tirthankaras.

• There may also be shrines or smaller images of other revered beings, but the central devotion is toward the Tirthankaras and the principles they embody.