# तीर्थ (tīrtha)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/tirtha

तीर्थ (tīrtha) is a Sanskrit word meaning the path to the altar between the Catvala and Utkara, a channel, the usual or right way or manner, the right place or moment, advice, instruction, or counsel, an adviser or preceptor. Its 30 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them Passage, Ford, or Access to Water, Worthy or Revered Person, Abstract Concepts, Means, or Technical Terms.

- **Root:** तॄ (tṝ)
- **Etymology:** E. तॄ to pass over, थक् Uṇādi affix; by which persons are extricated from sin, difficulty, &c — E. tṝ to pass over, thak Uṇādi affix; by which persons are extricated from sin, difficulty, &c
- **SLP1:** `tIrTa`  **IAST:** tīrtha  **Devanagari:** तीर्थ
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirtha_%28Hinduism%29
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/tirtha/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Passage, Ford, or Access to Water (8 definitions)
- A passage, road, ford, stairs for descending into a river or bathing-place, or a place of pilgrimage on the banks of a sacred stream.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 449,1] तीर्थ (tīrtha) n. (rarely m., MBh. ) a passage, way, road, ford, stairs for landing or for descent into a river, bathing-place, place of pilgrimage on the banks of sacred streams, piece of water, RV. &c. [ ID=85562 ]
- a channel  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a channel, iv, 8, Paddh. [ ID=85564 ]
- 1. A ford, landing stair, or bathing place, especially one visited on pilgrimage to wash away sins. 2. The approach to a sacrificial altar. 3. The right place, moment, or manner. 4. Instruction, guidance, or a teacher. 5. A specific part of the hand. 6. A sacred object or worthy person. 7. A type of court official.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 110-1 ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) tīr-thá, ( m. ) n. [crossing-place: √tṝ] ford; landing-stair; bathing-place, esp. one to which pilgrimages are made for the expiation of sins; approach to the sacrificial altar, between the trench (cātvāla) and the mound of earth (utkara); right place or moment; suitable opportunity; customary or right manner ( in. duly); instruction, guidance; teacher, instructor; certain (four) line or parts of the hand; venerable or sacred object; worthy person; kind of court official. [ ID=8639 ]
- 1. A road, ford, or passage. 2. A descent into a river or place of water. 3. A holy place or place of pilgrimage. 4. A means, expedient, or remedy. 5. A teacher or preceptor. 6. Source or origin. 7. A sacrifice. 8. A minister. 9. Advice or instruction. 10. Certain parts of the hand sacred to deities. 11. A worthy person or fit recipient of veneration. 12. A school of philosophy. 13. Fire. 14. Female genitalia. 15. Menstrual courses. 16. A Brahmana.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 311-05 ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) (I) n. 1. A passage, a road, a ford; 2. a descent into a river, कृततीर्थ (tīrtha) ः पयसामिवाशयः (kṛtatīrthaḥ payasāmivāśayaḥ) Kir. ii.3 (where the word is used in this sense and in sense 5); 3. a place of water; 4. a holy place, a place of pilgrimage, especially one on or near the banks of a sacred river or spring, R. i.85; 5. a means, an expedient, a remedy, अनेन तीर्थ (tīrtha) ेन घटेत (anena tīrthena ghaṭeta) M.M. i.; 6. a preceptor, a teacher, मया सुतीर्थ (tīrtha) ादभिनयविद्या शिक्षिता (mayā sutīrthādabhinayavidyā śikṣitā) Mal. i.; 7. source, origin; 8. a sacrifice; 9. a minister; 10. advice, instruction; 11. certain parts of the hand sacred to various deities; 12. an object of veneration, a worthy person, a fit recipient, M. iii.130; 13. a school of philosophy; 14. fire; 15. pudendum, muliebre; 16. menstrual courses of a woman; 17. a Brāhmaṇa. [ ID=15663 ]
- 1. Stairs of a landing-place or a descent. 2. A bathing-place. 3. A place of pilgrimage or holy place. 4. The right or holy moment. 5. Opportunity. 6. Instruction. 7. A sacred preceptor. 8. Certain lines or parts of the hand. 9. A venerable object or person. 10. Certain persons of a king's court.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 0365-b ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) tīrtha, i. e. tṝ + tha, m. and n. 1. Stairs of a landing-place, a descent, Bhāg. P. 9, 19, 4. 2. A bathing-place, Rām. 1, 2, 6. 3. A place of pilgrimage, Man. 8, 356; Rājat. 5, 304. 4. A holy place, Man. 11, 196. 5. The right or holy moment, Bhāg. P. 7, 8, 44; 1, 12, 14. 6. Opportunity, Bhāg. P. 3, 19, 4. 7. Instruction, Kir. 2, 3. 8. A sacred preceptor, MBh. 5, 4212. 9. Certain lines or parts of the hand, Man. 2, 58. 10. A venerable object, Bhāg. P. 4, 20, 4. 11. A venerable person, MBh. 13, Page0366-a+ 41 5356; Daśak. in Chr. 182, 20. 12. Cer- tain persons of a king's court, MBh. 2, 171; tīrthatama, see separately. — Comp. Apsaras-, n. the name of a local- ity. Dus-, adj., f. thā, difficult to be crossed, Chr. 47, 36. Sa-, m. a fellow student, Soma-, n. a place of pilgrimage in the west of India. [ ID=5927 ]
- 1. A passage or approach. 2. A bathing place or landing place. 3. A holy place of pilgrimage or shrine. 4. A venerable person, teacher, or counselor. 5. Certain sacred lines or parts of the hand. 6. The right way, place, or moment.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 204 ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) n. ( m. ) passage, access, approach ( esp. to a water or the altar); descent into a water, landing or bathing-place ( poss. ° वन्त् (°vant) †), shrine or holy place of pilgrimage, any venerable or worthy thing or person, esp. counsellor, adviser, teacher (also counsel, instruction); certain lines or parts of the hand sacred to sev. gods; the right way, place, or moment. [ ID=12402 ]
- 1. A passage, way, road, or ford. 2. A landing-place stairs, descent into a river, or bathing-place. 3. A holy place, shrine, or sacred place of pilgrimage. 4. Any piece of water. 5. The path to the sacrificial altar. 6. A channel, canal, or watercourse. 7. The right or usual manner. 8. The right place, moment, or opportunity. 9. A sacrifice. 10. Advice, instruction, counsel, or a counselor. 11. A sacred preceptor or guru. 12. A means or expedient. 13. Certain parts of the hand sacred to deities. 14. A sacred, worthy, or venerated object or person, including a Brahman. 15. A minister or state officer. 16. The female organ or menstrual courses. 17. A school of philosophy or sect. 18. The ascertainment of disease. 19. Fire.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 0376-b ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) tīrtha, as, am, m. n. (fr. rt. tṝ, the masc. is only exceptionally used in epic poetry), a passage, way, road, ford; especially a Ghāt or the stairs of a landing-place, a descent into a river, a bathing-place, a holy place, a shrine or sacred place of pilgrimage, as Benares &c., especially particular spots along the course of sacred streams, as the Ganges &c., or in the vicinity of sacred springs; any piece of water; (in sacrificial language) the path to the altar between the Cātvāla and Utkara; a channel, a canal, watercourse; the usual way, the usual or right manner (e. g. tīrthena or tīrthatas, in right order, in the usual way; a-tīrthena, in a wrong way); the right place, the right moment; a sacred place, a sacred moment, opportunity; a sacrifice; advice, instruction, counsel; a counsellor, an adviser; a sacred preceptor, a Guru; an oppor- tunity, a means, an expedient; certain lines or parts of the hand sacred to the deities &c. (as the root of the two smaller fingers, to Prajāpati; the tops of the fingers, to the gods; the space between the thumb and finger, to the manes; the root of the thumb, to Brahma or to the Veda; saumyan tīr- tham = the middle of the hand); an object of veneration, a sacred object; a worthy object or person, a fit recipient, (sometimes at the end of names, e. g. ānanda-tīrtha, jaya-t°, &c.); a Brāh- man; a minister; a N. given to certain officers Page0376-c+ 79 (eighteen or fifteen in number) who are in close attendance on a king; pudendum muliebre; menstrual courses of a woman; a school of philosophy ( = dar- śana ), a sect; ascertainment of disease; fire. —Tīr- tha-kamaṇḍalu, us, u, m. n. a pot with water from a sacred bathing-place. —Tīrtha-kara, as, ā or ī, am, ‘creating a passage (through life, or through the circuit of life);’ ( as ), m. an epithet of Viṣṇu; one of the synonyms of an Arhat or sanctified teacher of the Jaina sect; (with Buddhists) an ascetic (‘bathing in holy waters’). —Tīrtha-kāka, as, m. a crow at a sacred bathing-place, i. e. one not in his own proper place. —Tīrtha-kāśikā, f., N. of a work by Gaṅgā-dhara. —Tīrtha-kīrtti, is, is, i, one whose mere fame makes holy. —Tīrtha-kṛt, t, m. = tīrtha-kara, a Jaina Arhat. —Tīrtha-gopāla, am, n., N. of a place of pilgrimage. —Tīrthaṅ-kara, as, m. = tīrtha-kara, a Jaina Arhat. —Tīrtha- cintā-maṇi, is, m. f., N. of a chapter of the Saṃskāra-tattva by Raghu-nandana, treating of the Indian sacraments. —Tīrtha-tama, am, n. (fr. tīr- tha with the affix of the superl.), a more sacred place of pilgrimage; an object of the highest sanctity. —Tīrtha-deva, as, m. an epithet of Śiva. —Tīr- tha-dhvāṅkṣa, as, m. ‘a crow at a place of pil- grimage,’ a contemptuous epithet; [cf. tīrtha-kāka. ] —Tīrtha-pati, is, m., N. of the chief of a sect. —Tīrtha-pād, pāt, padī, pat, ‘one whose feet are sacred or sanctify,’ an epithet of Kṛṣṇa. —Tīrtha- pādīya, as, m. an adherent of Kṛṣṇa. —Tīrtha- bhūta, as, ā, am, rendered holy, sacred. —Tīrtha- mahā-hrada, as, m., N. of a shrine or place of pilgrimage. —Tīrtha-mahiman, ā, m., N. of a chapter of the Śūdra-dharma-tattva, treating of the duties of the Śūdras. —Tīrtha-māhātmya, am, n., N. of a chapter of the Purāṇa-sarva-sva by Halā- yudha. —Tīrtha-yātrā, f. a visit to any sacred shrine or bathing-place, a pilgrimage; N. of a chapter of the Śiva-Purāṇa. —Tīrthayātrā-tattva, am, n., N. of a part of the Smṛti-tattva by Raghu- nandana. —Tīrthayātrā-parvan, a, n., N. of a sec- tion of the third book of the Mahā-bhārata (ch. 80- 156). —Tīrtha-yātrin, ī, iṇī, i, going to a place of pilgrimage. —Tīrtha-rājī, f. ‘a line of sacred bathing- places,’ epithet of Benares. —Tīrtha-vat, ān, atī, at, having descents to the water, abounding in sacred bathing-places; ( atī ), f., N. of a river. —Tīr- tha-vāka, as, m. the hair of the head. —Tīrtha- vāyasa, as, m. a crow at a Tīrtha; see tīrtha- kāka. —Tīrtha-vāsin, ī, inī, i, dwelling at a place of pilgrimage. —Tīrtha-vidhi, is, m. the rites ob- served at a place of pilgrimage. —Tīrtha-śilā, f. the stone steps leading to a bathing-place. —Tīrtha- śravas, ās, ās, as, one whose mere fame is sacred or sanctifies. —Tīrtha-śrāddha-prayoga, as, m., N. of a chapter of the Śrāddha-cintā-maṇi by Śiva- rāma, treating of funeral ceremonies. —Tīrtha- seni, is, f., N. of one of the Mātṛs attending on Skanda. —Tīrtha-sevin, ī, inī, i, visiting shrines, a pilgrim; ( ī ), m. a kind of crane, Ardea Nivea. —Tīrtha-saukhya, am, n. title of a particular work or of a part of a work. [ ID=21011 ]
- a sacred bathing place  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 676-2 ] tīrtha, pl. ( °āṇi ) (“bathing-place”, personif.). § 615 u (Skanda): IX, 45 γ, 2514 (came to the investiture of Skanda). [ ID=10838 ]

### Worthy or Revered Person (5 definitions)
- a worthy person  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a worthy person, Āp.; Manu-smṛti (Title) iii, 130; MBh. &c. [ ID=85570 ]
- a person worthy of receiving anything  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a person worthy of receiving anything ( gen. ), Mānava-gṛhya-sūtra (Title) i, 7 [ ID=85571 ]
- certain royal counsellors  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of certain counsellors of a king (enumerated in Pañcatantra (Title) iii, 67/68 ), Mahābhārata (Title) ii, 171; Raghuvaṃśa (Title) xvii; Śiśupāla-vadha (Title) xiv [ ID=85572 ]
- a brahman  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a brāhman, Uṇvṛ. [ ID=85574 ]
- a righteous person fit to receive a gift  
  *The Purana Index*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 2-027 ] Tīrtha — a righteous person fit to receive a dāna. Vā. 91. 111. [ ID=5487 ]

### Abstract Concepts, Means, or Technical Terms (4 definitions)
- sight, view, or vision  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = दर्शन (darśana), L. [ ID=85575 ]
- yoga  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = योग (yoga), L. [ ID=85576 ]
- fire  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > fire, Uṇvṛ. [ ID=85579 ]
- See nidana  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = निदान (nidāna), ib. [ ID=85580 ]

### Sacred Place or Pilgrimage Site (4 definitions)
- an object of veneration  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an object of veneration, sacred object, BhP. [ ID=85569 ]
- 1. Sacred science or holy knowledge. 2. A place of pilgrimage. 3. A body of water. 4. A bathing ghat or landing place. 5. A spiritual teacher. 6. Sacrifice. 7. The descent of a deity. 8. A school of philosophy or sect. 9. A counselor. 10. A means of success. 11. Menses. 12. Pudendum muliebre. 13. A vessel. 14. A royal vessel. 15. A Brahmin. 16. Ascertainment of disease. 17. Fire. 18. A part of the hand sacred to a deity.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 378 ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) mn. ( - र्थः - र्थं (-rthaḥ-rthaṃ) ) 1 Sacred science, or any of the branches of knowledge esteemed holy. 2 A holy place, any place of pilgrimage, as Benares, &c. but especially particular spots along the course of sacred streams, as the Ganges, &c. and in the vicinity of some piece of water or sacred springs. 3 Any piece of water. 4 A Ghāt or stairs of a landing place. 5 A sacred preceptor, a Guru. 6 Sacrifice. 7 An Avatāra or descent of a deity. 8 A school of philosophy, a Darśana, a sect. 9 A counsellor, an adviser. 10 An expedient, a means of success. 11 The menses. 12 Pudendum muliebre. 13 A vessel. 14 A royal vessel. 15 A Brahman. 16 Ascertainment of disease. 17 Fire. 18 A part of the hand sacred to any Page379 deity, as between the thumb and finger to the manes, the root of the thumb to BRAHMA, &c. E. तॄ (tṝ) to pass over, थक् (thak) Uṇādi affix; by which persons are extricated from sin, difficulty, &c. [ ID=17580 ]
- 1. A holy place or sacred bathing spot. 2. A spiritual teacher or guru. 3. A sacrifice. 4. An incarnation. 5. A means to an end. 6. Menstruation. 7. A vessel. 8. Fire. 9. A specific part of the hand.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 335-a ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) ( र्थः - र्थं ) ((rthaḥ-rthaṃ)) 1. m. n. Sacred science, a holy place; a ghāt; a guru; a sacrifice; an incarnation; a dar- shana; means; menses; a vessel; fire; a part of the hand. [ ID=17052 ]
- 1. Sacred science or any holy branch of knowledge. 2. A holy place of pilgrimage or sacred water. 3. A landing place with stairs. 4. A spiritual preceptor or guru. 5. A sacrifice. 6. An avatar or descent of a deity. 7. A school of philosophy or sect. 8. A counsellor or adviser. 9. A means of success. 10. The menses. 11. Pudendum muliebre. 12. A vessel. 13. Brahman. 14. Ascertainment of disease. 15. Fire. 16. A part of the hand sacred to a deity.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) [Printed book page 315-a ] तीर्थ (tīrtha) mn. ( - र्थः - र्थं (-rthaḥ-rthaṃ) ) 1. Sacred science, or any of the branches of knowlege esteemed holy. 2. A holy place of pilgrimage, as Benares, &c. but especially particular sports along the course of sacred streams, as the Ganges, &c. and in the vicinity of some piece of water or sacred springs. 3. Any piece of water. 4. A Ghat or stairs of a landing place. 5. A sacred preceptor, a Guru. 6. Sacrifice. 7. An Avatar or descent of a diety. 3. A school of philosophy, a Darsana a sect. 9. A counsellor, an adviser. 10. An expedient, a means of success. 11. The menses. 12. Pudendum muliebre. 13. A vessel. 14. A royal vessel. 15. Brahman. 16. Ascertainment of disease. 17. Fire. 18. A part of the hand sacred to any deity, as between the thumb and finger to the manes, the root of the thumb to BRAMHA, &c. E. तॄ (tṝ) to pass over, थक् (thak) Unadi affix; by which persons are extricated from sin, difficulty, &c. [ ID=17563 ]

### Specific Ritual, Anatomical, or Palmistry Term (4 definitions)
- the path to the altar between the Catvala and Utkara  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the path to the altar between the Cātvāla and Utkara, Ṣaḍviṃśa-brāhmaṇa (Title) iii, 1; Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title) iv, ix; ŚāṅkhŚr.; Lāṭy.; KātyŚr. [ ID=85563 ]
- certain lines or parts of the hand sacred to deities  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > certain lines or parts of the hand sacred to the deities, Manu-smṛti (Title) ii; Yājñ. &c. [ ID=85568 ]
- the vulva  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the vulva, L. [ ID=85577 ]
- a woman's menstrual period  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a woman's courses, L. [ ID=85578 ]

### Honorary Title or Suffix (2 definitions)
- one of the ten orders of ascetics founded by Shankaracharya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 449,2] one of the ten orders of ascetics founded by Śaṃkarācārya (its members add the word तीर्थ (tīrtha) to their names) [ ID=85573 ]
- an honorary affix to the names of saints and ascetics  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तीर्थ (tīrtha) (II) m. An honorary affix to the names of saints and ascetics. [ ID=15664 ]

### Right/Proper Way, Manner, or Opportune Time/Place (2 definitions)
- the usual or right way or manner  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the usual or right way or manner, TS.; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) xiv, ( अ - (a-), xi ), KātyŚr.; Mahābhārata (Title) iv, 1411 [ ID=85565 ]
- the right place or moment  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the right place or moment, Chāndogya-upaniṣad (Title) viii; Anup. &c. [ ID=85566 ]

### Instruction, Counsel, or Sacred Knowledge (1 definition)
- 1. Advice, instruction, or counsel. 2. An adviser or preceptor.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > advice, instruction, counsel, adviser, preceptor, Mahābhārata (Title) v; Mālavikāgnimitra (Title) i, 12/13; Kirātārjunīya (Title) ii, 3 [ ID=85567 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546