Jain Exhibition Part 02 348 Photos by code A to Z NewYork Temple

SR No.: 007707
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Total Pages: 350
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 85 MB

Page 308

List of Ashtapad Related Stories
There are many legends associated with Ashtapad Tirth, out of which some of them have been depicted as individual carved units. Some carvings are on mountain while others are on table.
01. Shri Rushabhdev Janma Kalyanak
02. Shri Rushabhdev - Nirvana Kalyanak.
03. Shri Rushabhdev Bhagwan in Samavsaran.
04. Shri Rushabhdev Varsi Tap Parna (Fast breaking ceremony).
05. Bhagwan no Parivar/99 Brothers
06. King Bharat Chakravarti..
07. King Bharat at Rang Mandap on Ashtapad.*
09. King Bharat in Areesha Mahal (palace of mirrors).
09. King Sagar's sons and Nag Kumar.
10. Bali Muni and Ravan Viman."
11. Ravan trying to lift Ashtapad Mountain."
12. Ravan and Mandodari devotion (Bhakti).*
13. Ravan and heavenly God Dharmendra Dev Dialogue.
14. Gautam Swami seeking permission from Bhagwan Mahavir to visit Ashtapad.
15. Gautam Swami climbing Ashtapad with the help of Sun-rays
(Atma Labhdhi). This effect is shown with help of laser. 16. Gautam Swami and Tapas - Kheer Parna.
17. Gautam Swami - scripting of Jag-Chintamani Sutra. 18.5 Tapas on each of the first 3 steps, total 15-representing 15. 19. Gautam Swami and Tiryank Jrumbhak Dev Updesh.*
20. Rani Veermati (previous life of Damayanti) and "Tilak' Story,"
21. Sun, Moon, Indra Viman and Angels with Garland. 22. Shri Padlipta Suri's Visit to Ashtapad.
*On the mountain and others are in front of the mountain
"Past Karmas will definitely catch you in the future."
Janma Kalyanak
During the third era, King Nabhiraj and Mata Marudevi ruled over Bharat Kshetra. The Queen gave birth to a son named Rushabha who later became King, ruling well and teaching various skills to his people. As his life went by, he decided to renounce worldly life. He donated all his possessions for one year and became a monk.
Varsi Tap Parna As a monk, Rushabhdev reached the city of Hastinapur, King Shreyans Kumar bowed down and offered him fresh sugarcane juice for Parna. Since then the Varsi Tap (penance) and the corresponding fast breaking ceremony of drinking sugarcane Juice during Parna have been followed. Bharat Chakravarti
Bharat was the eldest son of Rushabhdev. After his father renounced the throne, hel became the King. When King Bharat heard about Bhagwan's Nirvana, he went to Ashtapad to pay homage. There he constructed a crystal palace and installed the idols of the 24 Tirthankar as Rushabhdev had explained him in one of his sermon.
Areesa Mahal Once King Bharat was looking in the mirror in his palace, when one of the rings fell off from his finger. He saw his bare finger and wondered what he would look like without any ornaments. He realized his material possessions were creating the illusion of beauty & that true beauty comes from with-1 in. He entered in deep meditation, when he was able to destroy all his Ghati Karma.
Shri Gautam Swami Bhagwan Mahavir once said in his sermon, "A person who scales Ashtapad offers prayers to 24 Tirthankar attains Moksha in the same life." When Gautam Swami heard this, he requested permission from Bhagwan to go to Ashtapad. With the help of spiritual power (Atma Labdhi), Gautam Swami scaled Ashtapad Mountain by holding onto sunrays as rope.
Tapas Kheer Parna When Gautam Swami arrived at the base of the Ashtapad Mountain, he saw three ascetics, with 500 disciples each trying to scale Ashtapad, but they could not climb more than 3 steps. Upon his return all Tapas were impressed by his achievement and wanted to be his disciples. Since the Tapas were fasting for 3 days, Gautam Swami arranged Kheer (rice cooked in milk) for Parna. The quantity of Kheer was not enough, but with his spiritual power he fed all by putting his thumb in the vessel.
Tiryank Jrumbhak Dev That night a heavenly god named Vaishraman (Tiryank Jrumbhak Dev, in one of the previous life of Vajra Swami) came there to worship. He saw Gautam Swamil who looked very healthy. He thought how can this monk do penance. Gautam Swami read his mind and told the story of Pundarik and Kandarik, that control of soul through meritorious meditation is real penance. This way he cleared the doubt of heavenly god.
-Sutra-krutänga Sutra 1.5.2.33
Nag Kumar & Sagar's sons King Sagar's 60,000 sons went to Ashtapad to pray. In order to protect the temple, they dug a trench all around. Being disturbed, Nag Kumar Dev got angry but Princes apologized. Then they filled the trench with water. This disturbed Nag Kumar Dev again, so he came out and burned all 60,000 Princes to ashes.
Ravan & Bali Muni While flying over Ashtapad, Ravan's Vimant stopped as he failed to pray to meditating Bali Muni. This angered Ravan and remembering his previous revenge, he tried to lift the mountain with intention to throw it into the ocean. With special knowledge, Bali realized this so he pressed his toe on mountain. Ravan was unable to bear the pressure, so he begged for pardon.
Ravan & Mandodari Bhakti Ravan and his wife Mandodari went to Ashtapad to pray. While Ravan was playing Veena, Mandodari started dancing when a string from Veena broke. Ravan pulled a vein from his thigh, to replace the broken string, and continued playing. Then they performed pooja. Thus Ravan earned Tirthankar Nam-karma.
Rani Veermati Rani Veermati wanted to visit Ashtapad to pray. After she completed a long penance, Shashan Devi, assisted her to Ashtapad. She prayed to all 24 Tirthankar and placed a gemstone Tilak on their forehead. In her later life, as Rani Damayanti, her forehead glowed like ruby Tilak that she had previously adorned on all Tirthankar.