Tirtha (Jainism)



In Jainism, a tīrtha (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.

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:


 * 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: Pilgrimage sites are owned either by the Digambara sect or the Śvetāmbara sect. Some of the major Śvetāmbara pilgrimage sites include: -
 * North India: Hastinapur, Taxila, and Ashtapada
 * 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
 * Overseas: Siddhachalam, Nava Ashtapada, Siddhayatan, Jain Center of Southern California


 * 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