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PREFACE: XXXVII
Tīrtha' has been used synonimously to Dharma-sangha' or the religious order. Every religious order or the group of practitioners of the faith was called tirtha. Based on this tradition, the practitioners of other faiths were called 'Anyatairthikas' or belonging to different religious orders. In the Jaina literature religious orders of other Šramanic traditions such as Buddhist etc. were referred to as "Tairthika or Anyatairthika.22 In the Samaññaphalasutta of the Buddhist text Dīghanikāya, too, besides the name of Lord Mahāvīra those of Mankhali Gośā laka, Ajitakeśakambalī, Pūrnakāsyapa, Prabuddhakātyāyana, ete have been mentioned as “Titthakara (Tīrtharikara):23 or the establishers of religious orders. It follows from this that the groups of followers of their respective faiths were also called 'tīrthas'. In the Jaina tradition, however, the term “Tīrtha' has been prevelent since the ancient times to date for the Jaina order or the groups of practitioners of Jaina faith. While praising the Lord (Mahāvīra), Ācārya Samantabhadra says, “O Lord ! this tīrtha – i'eligious order – established by you is emancipating and beneficial for everyone.24 The religious order of Lord Mahāvīra has ever been termed as Tīrtha!
Classification Of Tīrtha
In the Višesā vasaka Bhāsya, Tīrtha or pilgrimage has also
22 “Paratitthiyā' - Sūtrakrtānga, 1/6/1.
Evamvutte, annataro rājāmacco rājānam māgardham Ajātasattum vedehi-puttam etadvoca – “Ayam, Deva ! Pūrano Kassapo sanghi ceva gani ca ganācariyo ca, nāto, yasassī, titthakaro, sādhusammati bahujanassam, rattannū, cirapabajjito, addhagato vayoanuppatto |
– Dīghanikāya (Sāmañjaphalasuttam), 2/2. 24 Sarvāpadāmantalaram nirantam sarvodayam tīrthamidam tavaiva ||
- Mahāvīra kā Sarvodaya Tirtha, p. 12.
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