Tirtha In Jainism

Tirtha in Jainism (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.

Gommateshwara statue ಗೊಮ್ಮಟೇಶ್ವರ

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)
Puranakshetras 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

Adishwar Temple, one of the Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu.

Locations

Geographically, the tirthas are divided into six quarters:

North India: Hastinapur, Taxila, and Ashtapada
South India: 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