Tirtha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Hindu usage, see Tirtha and Kshetra.
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.
[edit] 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
[edit] References
- ^ Special features of sacred places of Jains http://www.jsgc.org/tirth.htm
- ^ Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence, Kurt Titze, Motilal Banarsidass,; 2 edition (March 5, 2001)
- ^ Bharat ke Digambar Jain Tirth, Volume 1, Balbhadra Jain, 1974
