Siddhachalam
Siddhachalam | |
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![]() The main temple at Siddhachalam, Digambara on the left and Śvētāmbara on the right | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Jainism |
Festivals | Mahavir Jayanti |
Location | |
Location | 65 Mud Pond Road, Blairstown, New Jersey, United States |
![]() ![]() Location within New Jersey | |
Geographic coordinates | 40°57′17″N 74°57′07″W / 40.95478°N 74.95188°WCoordinates: 40°57′17″N 74°57′07″W / 40.95478°N 74.95188°W |
Architecture | |
Creator | Sushil Kumarji |
Date established | 1983 |
Temple(s) | 2 |
Website | |
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Jainism |
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Siddhachalam is the first Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) located outside of India. Founded in 1983 by Sushil Kumar, it is located on a 108-acre (44ha) site in rural New Jersey, United States. Siddhachalam (Hindi: siddha, liberated souls; achal, a permanent place, as a mountain) literally means the abode of liberated souls.
History[]
In 1980, Sushil Kumar encouraged his disciples to acquire a long-abandoned children's summer camp and founded an ashram there to teach ahimsa. Kumar reportedly engaged there in extended samadhi meditation.[1] Twelve years later, he encouraged the community to establish temples in homage to Jinas. The ashram maintains the only Jain monastery outside India.[2] Siddhachalam has become an important center of Jain conferences and an important Jain pilgrimage.[3] The center houses idols from all Jain sects, given that American Jains have sought to not bring in sectarian differences from India.[4]
In 2012, Siddhachalam became the site for the world's first full-scale, complete replication of Shikharji, the most important place of pilgrimage for the Jains. Shikharji at Siddhachalam is the first Jain place of pilgrimage outside India.[5]
The main temple has idols of the tirthankaras Rishabha, Pārśva, Mahāvīra, Chandraprabha and Shantinatha. There is also a small temple where the main idol is Pārśva.
The ashram is also a nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary.[6]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "About Siddhachalam". Siddhachalam. International Mahavira Jain Mission.
- ^ Allen Richardson, E. (10 January 2014). Strangers in This Land. ISBN 9780786457274.
- ^ Williams, Raymond Brady (2004). Williams on South Asian Religions and Immigration. ISBN 9780754638568.
- ^ Sheth, Pravin N. (2001). Indians in America. ISBN 9788170336389.
- ^ "Shikharji at Siddhachalam | Siddhachalam".
- ^ Quinn, Edward (14 May 2014). Critical Companion to George Orwell. ISBN 9781438108735.
External links[]
- 20th-century Jain temples
- Indian-American culture in New Jersey
- Jain temples in the United States
- Temples in New Jersey
- Religious organizations established in 1983