Tirtha

Adishwar Temple, Delwada Abu

200pxThe Gomatheswara at Shravanabelagola 978-993 AD.

A tirtha or teertha is a pilgrimage site. Literally, the Sanskrit term tirtha means a ford, a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed. A tirtha provides the inspiration to enable one to cross over from worldly engagement to the side of nirvana^[1].

In Jainism, a tirtha may be ^[2]

• Siddha kshtra: site of liberation of a Kevali (including Tirthankaras) like Ashtapad hill, Sammet Shikhar, Champa, Girnar, Pava and Shatrunjaya.
• Atishaya kshetra: where divine events have occurred like Mahavirji, Kesariaji, Kundalpur etc.
• Purana kshetra: associated with lives of shalaka-purushas, like Ayodhya, Vidisha, Hastinapur, Rajgir etc.
• Gyana kshetra: associated with famous Acharyas or centers of learning, like Mohankheda, Shravanabelagola, Ladnun etc.

Geographically the Jain Tirthas can be divided into Six Quarters:

• North India: Hastinapur, Takshashila, Ashtapada etc,^[3].
• South India: Shravanabelagola, Moodabidri, Humbaj, Ananthanatha Swami Temple near Kalpetta etc.
• Eastern India: Sammet Sikhar, Pavapuri, Champa, Pundravardhan etc.
• Western India: Shatrunajaya, Girnar, Abu, Mahavirji etc.
• Central India: Vidisha, Kundalpur, Sonagir, etc.
• Overseas: Siddhachalam, Nava-ashtapad, Siddhayatan Hindu-Jain Tirth, etc.

Directories of Tirthas (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

References