Tirtha (Jainism)
| Part of a series on | 
| Jainism | 
|---|
![]()  | 


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.[1]
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:[2]
- 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:[3]
- North India: Hastinapur
 - South India: Kulpakji, 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, Bawangaja
 - Overseas: Taxila, Ashtapada, Siddhachalam, Nava Ashtapada, Siddhayatan, Jain Center of Southern California
 
Pilgrimage sites are owned either by the Digambara sect or the Śvetāmbara sect. Some of the major Śvetāmbara pilgrimage sites include: -
- Palitana temples
 - Shankheshwar Jain Temple
 - Girnar Jain temples
 - Sammed Shikharji Jain Tirth (shared with Digambar)
 - Lachhuar Jain temple
 - Dilwara Temples
 - Nakoda Jain Temple
 - Ranakpur Jain temple
 - Kesariya Jain Tirth (shared with Digambar)
 - Kulpak Jain Temple
 - Mohankheda
 - Mahudi Jain Temple
 
See also
References
- ^ Special features of sacred places of Jains Archived 2009-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
 - ^ Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence, Kurt Titze, Motilal Banarsidass; 2nd edition (March 5, 2001)
 - ^ Bharat ke Digambar Jain Tirth, Volume 1, Balbhadra Jain, 1974
 
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
 
