tirthas

Tirthas are sacred places and concepts found in Hinduism and Jainism that center on the idea of a crossing or ford between the mundane world and the divine. The term comes from the Sanskrit tirtha, meaning a ford, crossing, or holy water, and by extension a place where spiritual merit is gained through ritual and pilgrimage.

In Hinduism, tirthas form a sacred geography. They may be natural features such as river confluences, springs, or lakes, or sites associated with deities, sages, or mythic events. Pilgrims visit tirthas to bathe, perform rites, offer prayers, and seek purification or liberation. Confluences and sacred waters are especially revered, with bathing at a tirtha believed to cleanse sins and advance spiritual progress. Tirthas are often integrated into temple towns or pilgrimage circuits and can be the focus of festivals and fairs. Notable examples include the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj (the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati), Varanasi, Rameshwaram, and Puri.

In Jainism, tirtha also denotes pilgrimage sites that serve as spiritual crossings from samsara toward liberation. These tirthas are associated with the teachings of the Tirthankaras and with places where liberation is believed to be attained or remembered. Pilgrims visit tirthas to perform rituals, circumambulate temples, and accumulate spiritual merit. Major Jain tirthas include Shankheshwar, Palitana, Girnar, and Mount Abu, among others.

Across both traditions, tirthas function as sacred places that anchor ritual practice, mythic geography, and the pursuit of liberation or kevala jnana.