A holy shrine of Jains. The Sanskrit word 'Teerth' means 'a ford,' shallow place where a river or stream may be crossed. Jains use it in a figurative sense - that which enables a person to cross the endless sea of worldly existence and suffering.
'Teerth' also refers to the fourfold order of the Jains, called the Sangh. It consists of
sadhus (monks), sadhvis (nuns), shravaks (laymen) and shravikas (laywomen). A saint who rejuvenates the society by re-establishing the Jain order of teerth is called a 'tirthankar.'
