Siddhayatan, is a Jain-HinduTirth (pilgrimage site) in North America founded in 2008 by Acharya Shree Yogeesh.[1] It is located on a 250-acre (1.0 km2) site at Windom near Dallas, Texas, United States.[2] Siddhayatan currently has miniatured versions of pilgrimage sites from India, including Kailash-Mansarovar, Lake Rakshastal, Ashtapad, Sammedshikhar, Bahubali, and thus is considered as a pilgrimage rather than a temple or place of worship or prayer. According to India Abroad, it is a “Spiritual Disneyland”. The tour of the entire pilgrimage is estimated to be 4 hours.[3]
History and functioning
Acharya Shree Yogeesh founded the tirtha in 2008.[4][5] In 2015, an eastern European chapter was established at Estonia, Siddhayatan Mandir Estonia, which is also known as a Tirthankara Mandir. [6][7] Siddhayatan Spiritual Retreat Center & Ashram in Texas is legally registered as Siddhayatan Tirth and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti, the disciples of Acharya Shree Yogeesh are serving as the spiritual director and the operations director of the Tirtha.[8][9][10] Siddhayatan provides the options for stress relief, reduce addictions, PTSD help, ashram living experience, and volunteer programs apart from the traditional spiritual, self-improvement educational programs and guidance.[10] Siddhayatan is known for publishing an e-magazine Siddhaaloka.[11]