Tirtha

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 nirvana^[1].

Types

Tirtha sites include:^[2]

• Siddhakshetras or site of liberation of an arihant (kevalin) or Tirthankaras like Ashtapada Hill, Shikharji, Girnar, Pava, Palitana and Champa, capital of Anga
• Atishayakshetras where divine events have occurred like Mahavirji, Rishabhdeo, Kundalpur 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:^[3].

• North India: Hastinapur, Taxila, and Ashtapada
• South India: Shravanabelagola, Moodabidri, Humbaj, Anantnath Swami Temple near Kalpetta
• Eastern India: Shikharji, Pawapuri, Champa, Pundravardhan
• Western India: Palitana, Girnar, Mount Abu, Mahavirji
• Central India: Vidisha, Kundalpur, Sonagir
• Overseas: Siddhachalam, Nava-ashtapada, Siddhayatan

References

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