Dharmatirtha, Dharmatīrtha, Dharma-tirtha: 8 definitions

Introduction:

Dharmatirtha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Dharmatirtha in Shaivism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ) is the name of a Tīrtha (sacred bathing place) that is associated with the Dharmeśvara Liṅga (symbolical manifestation of Śiva). This place represents the fifty-third of the sixty-four siddhaliṅgas mentioned in the Nepalese Tyasaphu (a folding book or leporello). At each of these spots Śiva is manifest as a Liṅga. Each of these liṅgas has its own specific name, mantra, set of rituals and observances, auspicious time etc.

The auspiscious time for bathing at the Dharma-tīrtha near the Dharma-īśvara-liṅga is mentioned as “jyeṣṭha-kṛṣṇāmavāsī” (latin: jyeshtha-krishnamavasi). This basically represents the recommended day for bathing there (snānadina).

Shaivism book cover
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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Dharmatirtha in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ).—A holy place of ancient Bhārata. If a man bathes in a pond there, he would be absolved of all sins. (Śloka 1, Chapter 84, Vana Parva).

2) Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ).—Another holy place of ancient Bhārata. If a person bathes in a pond there he would get the benefit of performing a Vājapeya Sacrifice (Śloka 162, Chapter 84, Vana Parva).

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.82.141, III.82.1). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Dharma-tīrtha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Dharmatirtha in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ) refers to a type of sacred place, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism. Accordingly, “[...] while in this way the Supreme Lord’s mind was woven with the threads of continuity of disgust with saṃsāra, then the Lokāntika-gods [...] spoke as follows: ‘O you who have lotus-feet sunk in the water of light from the crest-jewels of Śakra, O light for the path of mokṣa lost in Bharatakṣetra, just as the first laws for the people have been established, O Lord, likewise establish a dharmatīrtha. Remember your own task’.”.

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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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India history and geography

Source: Heidelberg: Glory of the Tiruvanantapuram Padmanabhasvami Temple

Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ) is the name of a sacred place mentioned in the Anantaśayanakṣetramāhātmya, a text talking about the Thiruvananthapuram temple in eleven chapters, written before the 14th century and claiming to be part of the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa.—Pleased by Divākara’s devotion, Viṣṇu appears before him as a radiant young child. [...] The sage repeatedly pleads with the boy to appear from the hollow where he had disappeared. Divākara meditates there, visualising Viṣṇu in the form of Anantapadmanābha. Suddenly the huge tree is transformed into the form of Padmanābha lying on a serpent along with his attributes. [...] Both feet are near the Dharmatīrtha and Adharmatīrtha (present Tṛppādapuram, twelve kilometres to the north of the Tiruvanantapuram temple).

Note: There is a temple tank in Tiruvallam presently known as Balitīrtha (while the māhātmya refers to it as Matsyatīrtha), and two water tanks in Tṛppādapuram, as mentioned in the Anantaśayanakṣetra-māhātmya, namely Aśrutīrtha and Pāpanāśinī-tīrtha (in the māhātmya these tanks are referred to as Dharmatīrtha and Adharmatīrtha).

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Dharmatirtha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmatīrtha (धर्मतीर्थ):—[=dharma-tīrtha] [from dharma > dhara] n. Name of a Tīrtha, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Dharmatirtha in German

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Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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