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PREFACE : XXXI rare to find a charitable person like the one who gives desired charity while climbing the Satrunjaya hill. (verses 113–114)
In the end, telling about the fruit of making copies of the present work, the author says, “May the one, who gets a copy of this text entitled “Sārāvalī’ made, gain abundant respect, fame and glory and may he never incur sins. (116)
Thus, we see that the present Sārāvalī-prakirnaka eulogizes the importance and glory of the great holy place of pilgrimage - Śatruñjaya (Pālitāna as of now). Hence, it will be relevent to examine the development of the concept of "Tīrtha', the term that variously encompasses the four-fold religious order established by the Prophets', 'places of pilgrimage where any of the five auspicious events in the lives of Prophets occurred (Kalyānaka-ksetra)', “places where any soul attained liberation (Siddha-ksetra)' and 'the places of pilgrimage which are krown to be associated with miraculous events (Atiśaya-ksetra)', in the Jaina tradition.
Importance Of Tirtha In The Jaina Tradition --
Even though the concept of "Tīrtha' enjoys a very important place in every Indian religious tradition, the importance assigned to this concept in the Jaina tradition is somewhat unique because herein the very religious order comprising its four pillars - monks, nuns, lay male and female followers – has been called the “Tīrtha' and the Prophet - Propounder of the faith and the establisher of the order -- as “Tīrtharkara'. The status that is enjoyed by the God in other traditions is, in Jaina tradition,
enjoyed by the Tīrtharkara. Tīrtharikara is said to be the Lord 1. Prophet-propounder of the faith and the founder establisher of
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