Ashtapad Maha Tirth 01 Page 088 To 176 - Book Summary

The provided text is an excerpt from the "Ashtapad Maha Tirth" (Volume 1, pages 88-176) by Rajnikant Shah and Kumarpal Desai, published by USA Jain Center America NY. The text is a detailed description of the significance of Ashtapad, a holy mountain in Jainism, and its connection with the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabhadeva.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided pages:

Introduction to Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra and Ashtapad:

The excerpt begins by stating that it is a compilation from the first part of "Shri Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra" by the omniscient sage Shri Hemchandracharya. It focuses on Lord Rishabhadeva's nirvana (liberation) on Ashtapad and various events associated with the mountain.

Lord Rishabhadeva's Virtues and Activities:

The text describes Lord Rishabhadeva's benevolent actions and divine attributes:

Universal Benefactor: He wandered the earth, bringing peace and relief from suffering to people, much like the monsoon clouds bringing relief to the world. He protected beings from harmful creatures, calmed eternal enmities, and destroyed the calamities of excessive rain and drought.
Divine Aura: He possessed a radiant halo that seemed to emanate infinite light and rivaled the sun's brilliance.
Symbols of Divinity: He was preceded by a luminous Dharma Chakra (wheel of righteousness), a Dharma Dhwaja (flag of righteousness) adorned with thousands of flags, a divine drum that played spontaneously, and a crystal throne with a pedestal.
Graceful Movement: He walked with divine grace, his feet alighting on lotuses as if playfully. Even thorns seemed to yield before him.
Devotion from All: All beings, including deities, revered him. Trees bowed as he passed. A gentle, cool wind constantly served him. Birds circumambulated him. He was surrounded by countless enlightened monks.
Spiritual Influence: Just as the sun blossoms lotuses in every ocean and lake, Lord Rishabhadeva enlightened all virtuous beings in every village and city.

The Majesty of Ashtapad Mountain:

The text then vividly describes Ashtapad Mountain:

Appearance: It was as white as autumn clouds, or as if solidified ocean nectar (Velakuta) or a celestial bull with high horns. It resembled a part of the Pushkarini lake of Nandishwar Dwipa, the stalk of the Jambudweep lotus, or a crown of white gems on Earth.
Divine Purity: Deities constantly bathed it with water and cleansed it with garments, making it appear perpetually pure and radiant.
Natural Beauty: Women's activities made its crystal shores appear like riverbanks. The sight of Vidhyadhar women resting on its peaks reminded observers of the Vitadhya and Shudra Himalayas.
Cosmic Significance: It was seen as a celestial mirror reflecting heaven, a symbol of immense joy for the directions, and an inexhaustible source of material for creating planets and stars.
Lively Ecosystem: Deer resting on its peaks gave the illusion of the moon with its markings. Waterfalls appeared like flowing garments. Sun-gems' rays created banners. The mountain was vibrant with the sounds of birds and the activities of celestial beings like Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras. The flora and fauna interacted, creating a picturesque scene.
Height and Attractiveness: Its eight-yojana height made it seem as tall as the sky, and its diverse vegetation (ashoka, tamal, tal, khakra, malati, mallika) gave it the appearance of being clothed in different colors.

The Samavasarana and Lord Rishabhadeva's Discourse:

Divine Assembly: Upon reaching Ashtapad, Lord Rishabhadeva entered the Samavasarana (divine assembly) through the east gate. He circumambulated an Ashoka tree and sat on the throne, greeted by the king of birds, the swan, on a lotus. The Lord's manifestations, created by celestial beings, occupied the other thrones.
Congregation: Sadhus, Sadhvis, and celestial beings of various classes (Bhavanapati, Jyotishi, Vyantara) attended the assembly.
Indra's Adoration: Indra, the king of gods, arrived and praised the Lord, acknowledging his incomprehensible virtues and his role as a beacon of light for the unenlightened.
The Discourse: After the praise, Lord Rishabhadeva delivered a discourse in a language understandable to all, benefiting the entire universe.
Bharat's Inquiry: King Bharat, overwhelmed with devotion, requested the Lord to reveal the lineage of future Tirthankaras and Chakravartis, their cities, clans, parents, lifespan, appearance, stature, and spiritual journeys.

Prophecies of Future Tirthankaras and Chakravartis:

Lord Rishabhadeva revealed the future lineage, including:

Future Tirthankaras: Twenty-three more Tirthankaras would arise in Bharat Kshetra after him, and eleven more Chakravartis would appear besides Bharat. He detailed the names, parentage, lifespans, and physical attributes of many of the Tirthankaras in the Jambudweep (the ancient Indian cosmological continent).
The Twenty-Four Tirthankaras: The text meticulously lists the first 24 Tirthankaras, their birthplace, parentage, lifespan, physical stature, and the time between their nirvana and the previous Tirthankara's nirvana. This section provides a detailed genealogical and chronological account of these revered figures.

Lord Rishabhadeva's Nirvana on Ashtapad:

Departure from Ashtapad: After wandering through various lands and fulfilling his mission, Lord Rishabhadeva proceeded towards Ashtapad.
The Final Fast: On Ashtapad, accompanied by ten thousand monks, he undertook a fourteen-day fast (padpopagaman anashan), signifying his preparation for nirvana.
Bharat's Grief: Upon hearing of the Lord's fast, King Bharat was overcome with profound grief and sorrow. He rushed to Ashtapad barefoot, enduring hardships, his mind solely focused on the Lord.
Celestial Arrangements: While Lord Rishabhadeva was in his final meditation, celestial beings arranged the Samavasarana and prepared for the sacred rituals.
The Moment of Nirvana: In the third era of the avasarpini cycle, on the thirteenth day of the waning moon of Magha, under the Abhijit constellation, Lord Rishabhadeva achieved nirvana. He renounced his physical body, mind, and speech, attaining the highest state of pure consciousness (Shukla Dhyana).
The Monks' Nirvana: The ten thousand monks who were with him also attained Kevalajñāna (omniscience) and then nirvana, following the Lord's path.
Cosmic Manifestations: The Lord's nirvana brought joy even to the inhabitants of hell. The three worlds were illuminated.
Bharat's Anguish and Indra's Consolation: Overwhelmed by sorrow, King Bharat fainted. Upon regaining consciousness, he cried out in grief. Indra, the king of gods, consoled him, reminding him of the Lord's transcendence and the true nature of liberation.
Cremation and Relics: After the Lord's passing, the celestial beings performed the cremation rites with sandalwood. Relics, including the Lord's teeth, were collected by the Indras and enshrined.
The Priesthood: Those who requested fire for the rituals became the first Agnihotri Brahmins.
The Creation of Stupas and Temples: Celestial beings erected three stupas at the cremation site, representing the pinnacle of spiritual achievement. King Bharat, in his devotion, constructed a magnificent jewel-studded temple called Sinhnishyadiya Prasad, enshrining the images of the 24 Tirthankaras, his ancestors, his brothers, his sisters, and himself. The mountain was made inaccessible to ordinary people by creating eight divisions and pathways, leading to its name "Ashtapad" (eight steps).

The Significance of Ashtapad and the Establishment of the Sangha:

The Ashtapad Tirth: Lord Rishabhadeva's nirvana at Ashtapad marked it as the first and foremost holy site (tirtha) in Jainism.
The Jain Sangha: Lord Rishabhadeva, the first Tirthankara, established the fourfold Jain Sangha: monks (84,000), nuns (300,000), laymen (350,000), and laywomen (554,000), highlighting his role as the founder of the Jain tradition.
Bharat's Devotion: Bharat Chakravarti's devotion was immense, constructing temples and stupas, and ensuring the sanctity of the site.
The Legacy of Ashtapad: The text emphasizes the purity and spiritual merit associated with Ashtapad, stating that those who visit and worship there attain liberation.

The "Ashtapadkalpa" and its Significance:

Verse-by-verse Praise: The "Ashtapadkalpa," a part of the larger work "Vividh Teerthakalpa" by Acharya Jinaprabhasuri, praises Ashtapad and its connection with Lord Rishabhadeva, the ninety-nine sons (including Bahubali), and eight grandsons who attained liberation there. It also mentions the establishment of three stupas by Indra and the Sinhnishyadiya temple by Bharat.
Geographical and Historical Context: The text discusses Ashtapad's location relative to Ayodhya, its height, and its association with the Kailasa mountain. It also mentions the legends of Ravana and Vali Muni at Ashtapad and Gautam Swami's visit.
The Meaning of Ashtapad: The term "Ashtapad" refers to the eight steps created by Bharat Chakravarti to make the mountain accessible yet protected.

The "Panchashati Prabodh" and Gautam Swami's Connection:

Gautam Swami's Enlightenment: The "Panchashati Prabodh," authored by Shubhashil Gan, details Gautam Swami's visit to Ashtapad and his reverence for the 24 Tirthankara images. It recounts how 1503 ascetics were enlightened by Gautam Swami's teachings and attained omniscience.
The "Jagchintamani" Sutra: It is mentioned that Gautam Swami composed the first two verses of the "Jagchintamani" sutra at Ashtapad.

Various Dictionary Meanings of Ashtapad:

The text includes references to various dictionaries that define "Ashtapad" and "Kailas," confirming the association of Ashtapad with Mount Kailasa and its multifaceted interpretations, including its connection with gold.

References to Ashtapad in Jain Literature:

The excerpt provides a comprehensive list of references to Ashtapad from various Jain scriptures and texts, including:

Agamas: Acharanga Niryukti, Uttaradhyayan Sutra, Nishiith Churni, Kalpa Sutra, Jambudweep Prajnapti.
Charitra Grantha: Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra, Vasudev Hindi, Harivansh Purana, Adipurana, Brihadkalpa Sutra Bhashya.
Stotras: Sakalarhat Stotra, Ashtapad Stavan.
Other Texts: Ashtapad Mahatirth Kalpa, Vividh Teerthakalpa, Panchashati Prabodh, Jagchintamani Sutra.

These references highlight Ashtapad's significance as the place of Lord Rishabhadeva's nirvana, the location of the Sinhnishyadiya temple built by Bharat Chakravarti, and a site of great spiritual importance where many achieved liberation.

The Quest for Ashtapad's Location:

Challenges in Identification: The text acknowledges the difficulty in pinpointing Ashtapad's exact current geographical location, as many ancient descriptions relate to a different scale of geography compared to modern understanding.
Possible Locations: Several theories and observations about Ashtapad's potential location in the Himalayas, near Kailasa and Mansarovar, are discussed, along with the challenges of access and preservation.
The "Eight Steps" Theory: The name "Ashtapad" is explicitly linked to the eight steps constructed by Bharat Chakravarti, making the mountain accessible yet protected.
The Model Construction: The text concludes by detailing the process of creating a model of Ashtapad at the Jain Center of America in New York, using crystals and precious stones to represent the mountain and the 24 Tirthankara idols. The challenges faced during this construction, such as material weight and the precision required for the idols, are also mentioned.

Conclusion:

The excerpt from "Ashtapad Maha Tirth" meticulously details the spiritual and historical significance of Ashtapad as the sacred site of Lord Rishabhadeva's nirvana. It highlights the immense devotion of Bharat Chakravarti, the descriptions of the celestial assembly and the mountain's majesty, and the detailed prophecies of future Tirthankaras. It also touches upon the linguistic roots of "Ashtapad" and the ongoing efforts to locate this significant pilgrimage site. The text emphasizes the unique position of Ashtapad in Jain tradition as the genesis of the Jain path to liberation.