Answer

In a Jain temple, the idol of a Tirthankara may face any direction, depending on the temple design and consecration tradition.

However, devotees usually stand facing the Tirthankara idol while doing darshan, prayer, or puja.

Explanation

There is no single universal rule that every Tirthankara idol must face only one fixed direction. In Jain temples, the direction can vary:

• Some idols face east.
• Some face west.
• Some face north or south.
• In a Chaumukhi or Chaturmukha temple, Tirthankara images may face all four directions.

The direction is usually decided according to temple architecture, tradition, and the installation ceremony.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the main focus is not the physical direction, but the spiritual qualities of the Tirthankara:

• Keval Jnan — perfect knowledge
• Vitragta — complete freedom from attachment and hatred
• Ahimsa — supreme non-violence
• Moksha Marg — the path to liberation

Takeaway

A Tirthankara idol in a Jain temple does not have to face only one direction. The true purpose of darshan is to remember the Tirthankara’s pure, detached, and liberated state.