Tirtha (Jainism)

This article is about the Jainism term. For other uses, see Tirtha (disambiguation).

Adishwar Temple, one of the Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu.

The Gomatheswara at Shravanabelagola 978-993 AD.

In Jainism, a tīrtha (Sanskrit: तीर्थ "ford, a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha. A tirtha provides the inspiration to enable one to cross over from worldly engagement to the side of moksha.

Jain tirthas are located throughout India. Often a tirtha has a number of temples as well as residences (dharmashala) for the pilgrims and wandering monks and scholars.

Types

Tirtha sites include:

• Siddhakshetras or site of moksha liberation of an arihant (kevalin) or Tirthankaras like Ashtapada Hill, Shikharji, Girnar, Pawapuri, Palitana, Mangi-Tungi and Champapuri (capital of Anga)
• Atishayakshetras where divine events have occurred like Mahavirji, Rishabhdeo, Kundalpur, Aharji etc.
• Puranakshetras associated with lives of great men like Ayodhya, Vidisha, Hastinapur, and Rajgir
• Gyanakshetra: associated with famous acharyas or centers of learning like Mohankheda, Shravanabelagola and Ladnu

Locations

Geographically, the tirthas are divided into six quarters:

• North India: Hastinapur, Taxila, and Ashtapada
• South India: Shravanabelagola, Sankighatta, Moodabidri, Humbaj, Anantnath Swami Temple, Gummileru
• Eastern India: Shikharji, Pawapuri, Champapuri, Pundravardhana
• Western India: Palitana, Girnar, Mount Abu, Mahavirji, Shankheshwar, Mahudi
• Central India: Vidisha, Kundalpur, Sonagiri, Muktagiri
• Overseas: Siddhachalam, Nava Ashtapada, Siddhayatan

See also

• Jain temple
• Tirtha (Hinduism)
• Vividha Tirtha Kalpa

External links

• jainuniversity.org, Jain Tirtha all over India
• http://www.jainteerth.com
• http://tirth.jinvani.com
• http://www.jainpilgrimages.com
• http://www.jaintirths.com
• http://www.siddhayatan.org First Hindu-Jain Tirth in North America
• http://www.jainheritagecentres.com
• Shri Nageshwar Parshwanath
• Jain Tirth Darshan on jainreligion.in