Jai Jinendra.

Kshetra in Jain Dharma means a sacred place or field where spiritual merit, vows, and the teachings of Jain Tirthankaras are celebrated or realized. There are several clear kinds of kshetra commonly spoken about in Jain texts and tradition:

• Tirtha (pilgrimage) kshetra: Places where Tirthankaras preached, attained great spiritual events, or where Jain communities have built temples and many devotees visit for pilgrimage. Examples are places like Shikharji, Palitana, Girnar, Taranga, Pavapuri, Rajgriha, Champapuri, Hastinapur, etc. These are centers for dharma, tapas, and community practice.

• Siddha kshetra: Sacred ground where great Jain monks attained nirvana (salvation) and where the liberated souls (siddhas) reside in siddha-deha. These places are revered as highly auspicious for remembrance and meditation on liberation.

• Atishaya kshetra (miraculous/exceptional places): Sites believed to have witnessed special miraculous events or unusual spiritual power, where Jain fortune and blessings are considered especially strong.

• Aradhya/ Bhavya kshetra (worshipable places): Places where a major Tirthankara or a venerable Jain figure is worshipped, and where followers come for puja, prayers, and ritual observances.

• Kshetra within Jain cosmology: In Jain cosmology, the world is organized into lands or regions (kshetras) on the surface of Jambudvipa, and further divided into karmabhumi (where liberation is possible) and bhogabhumi (where worldly life predominates). This is a descriptive framework used in Jain philosophy to explain where liberation can be pursued and where worldly pleasures prevail.

Tradition-wise differences:

• Both Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions recognize these kinds of kshetras, but the emphasis or naming can vary. For example, Siddha kshetra and Atishaya kshetra concepts appear in texts and oral traditions of both sects, though the particular sites held as especially significant may differ in priority and legends.
• The core spiritual aim remains the same across traditions: to honor the Tirthankaras, cultivate ahimsa, tapas, and correct knowledge, and move toward liberation.

If you’d like, I can describe specific kshetras (like Shikharji or Palitana) with their traditional significance and the key events associated with them in Jain scriptures and lineages.