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Tirtha (Jainism)

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Vimal Vasahi Adishwar Temple, one of the Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu.
The Gomatheswara at Shravanabelagola 978–993 AD.

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

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Tirtha sites include:[2]

Locations

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Geographically, the tirthas are divided into six quarters:[3]

Pilgrimage sites are owned either by the Digambara sect or the Śvetāmbara sect. Some of the major Śvetāmbara pilgrimage sites include: -

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Special features of sacred places of Jains Archived 2009-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence, Kurt Titze, Motilal Banarsidass; 2nd edition (March 5, 2001)
  3. ^ Bharat ke Digambar Jain Tirth, Volume 1, Balbhadra Jain, 1974
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