Siddhachalam
First Jain pilgrimage site located outside of India
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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.[1] Siddhachalam (Hindi: siddha, liberated souls; achal, a permanent place, as a mountain) literally means the abode of liberated souls.
| Siddhachalam | |
|---|---|
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  Siddhachalam (the United States) | |
| Coordinates | 40.95478°N 74.95188°W |
| Architecture | |
| Creator | Sushil Kumarji |
| Established | 1983 |
| Temple | 2 |
| Website | |
| www | |
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 marble idols of the tirthankaras Rishabha, Pārśva, Mahāvīra, Chandraprabha and Shantinatha.[1] There is also a small temple where the main idol is Pārśva.
The ashram is also a nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary.[6]
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