________________
Once a curious god asked Bhagavan MahavirBhante, what is
Beloved of gods, the seeker the benefit of doing the
who goes there with the help of pilgrimage of
his inner powers, pays homage the lofty
to the Jina images, and stays Ashtapad? their overnight gets liberated
during this incarnation.
When Gautam Ganadhar heard this exchange he thought
What Bhagavan says is true. Now I
know the perfect test. If I can do the
pilgrimage of Ashtapad, I am sure to get liberated at the
end of this life.
CA
Getting permission from Bhagavan Mahavir, Ganadhar Gautam left for Ashtapad by aerial route.
After he arrived at the base of Ashtapad mountain he commenced his climb. The mountain had eight levels of one yojan each. Hermits Kaundinya, Datt, and Shaival with five hundred disciples each were climbing first, second, and third levels respectively, doing their penances on the way. When they saw Ganadhar Gautam climbing the mountain fast, they said
See, who is this handsome and healthy
seeker climbing the mountain
so fast?
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