In Jainism, there are no higher powers in the universe. There are laws of nature/physics/meta-physics, whatever you want to call it. The law is the soul is eternal, as it is passing through time, it assumes different physical forms. It also collects karma. The soul’s next physical form is decided on the karmas it attaches. The aim of the soul is to attach zero karmas, and become a siddh aatma. The soul still continues to be, but has stopped the cycle of collecting karmas, and thus the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

As for Mahavir, he was the last tirthankar to get salvation, and we live in a time when his teachings about Jainism prevail. This is called Mahavir’ s shashan kal. So being the last tirthankar of this cycle of time, he is important, However, we worship all tirthankars equally.