Siddhachalam

Siddhachalam

Siddhachalam

The main temple at Siddhachalam, Digambara on the left and Śvētāmbara on the right
USA New Jersey
Location within New Jersey
Basic information
Location 65 Mud Pond Road, Blairstown, New Jersey, United States
Geographic coordinates 40°57′17″N 74°57′07″W / 40.95478°N 74.95188°W / 40.95478; -74.95188Coordinates: 40°57′17″N 74°57′07″W / 40.95478°N 74.95188°W / 40.95478; -74.95188
Affiliation Jainism
Festivals Mahavir Jayanti
Country United States of America
Website www.siddhachalam.org
Architectural description
Creator Sushil Kumarji
Date established 1983
Temple(s) 2

Siddhachalam is the first Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) located outside of India. Founded in 1983 by Acharya Sushil Kumarji, it is located on a 108-acre (44ha) site in rural New Jersey, United States.[1] Siddhachalam (Hindi: siddha, liberated souls; achal, a permanent place, as a mountain) literally means the abode of liberated souls.

History

In 1980, Muni Sushil Kumar, a well-known Jain monk encouraged his disciples to acquire a long-abandoned children summer camp and founded an ashram there to teach ahimsa. A self-taught yogi, Muni Sushil Kumar reportedly engaged there in extended samadhi meditation.[2] Twelve years later, he encouraged the community to establish temples in homage to Jinas. The ashram maintains the only Jain monastery outside India.[3] Siddhachalam has become an important center of Jain conferences and an important Jain pilgrimage.[4] The center houses idols from all Jain sects, given that American Jains have sought to not bring in sectarian differences from India.[5]

In 2012, Siddhachalam became the site for the world's first full-scale, complete replication of Shikharji, the most important place of pilgrimage for the Jains. Shikharji at Siddhachalam is the first Jain place of pilgrimage outside India.[6]

The main temple has idols of the tirthankaras Rishabha, Pārśva, Mahāvīra, Chandraprabha and Shantinath. There is also a small temple where the main idol is Pārśva.

The ashram is also a nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Critical Companion to George Orwell".
  2. ↑ "About Siddhachalam". Siddhachalam. International Mahavira Jain Mission.
  3. ↑ "Strangers in This Land".
  4. ↑ "Williams on South Asian Religions and Immigration".
  5. ↑ "Indians in America".
  6. ↑
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