Ashtapad Maha Tirth Part 01

SR No.: 009853
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rajnikant Shah, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: USA Jain Center America NY
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 528
Language: Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 178 MB

Page 32

Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth
I took the model to Mumbai where late Pujya Yashodev Suriji Maharaj gave his blessings before it was brought to New York.
We then started working on the 2nd model, which was also 2 dimensional but larger in size, 2 x 2'. It was in the 3rd model that we changed the design to 3 dimensions which was carved from Serpentine stone. Story carvings were added to the model. Finally a 3 x 3 model of the Ashtapad along with story carvings was installed at the 74th street temple – the temporary abode for Shri Mahavir Swami - Mulnayak.
It was in the 5th model that we transitioned from carving in serpentine to crystal. The 5th Ashtapad model was 3 x 3' and carved from natural crystal. This model was first exhibited at Mumbai. There we received very enthusiastic response and reports. This model was finally installed at the new JCA temple building on the 4th floor conservatory at Ithaca St, Elmhurst, Queens, New York.
As devotees saw these models in various exhibits, many suggestions were received. Shri Pramesh Bhai Gandhi requested for Asht Pratiharya design, which I frankly said that it would not be possible to carve in Crystal. A couple of years went by, and Muni Shri Ramyadarshanvijay M.S. also asked for a similar design to be incorporated into the Ashtapad model. I realized it was possible and decided to try to incorporate the Ashta Pratiharya design in the model. We first tried carving it in marble and gained some success. We then moved to Crystal and finally all 24 Crystal gokhalas in the Ashtapad model were fully carved with Ashta Pratiharya design. Now all the 24 Tirthankar idols carved in gemstones are installed in ornate gokhalas carved with Ashta Pratiharya design.
As we progressed in the project, I happened to visit a temple in New Delhi, where I saw a model of the Ashtapad with a 5 Shikhar design. Till then all models were made with peaks of mountain at the top. Upon discussing this observation with Muni Shri, he also suggested to incorporate the Shikhar design into the Ashtapad model. I agreed to correct the design, only to realize this was a major change in design, and we would have to change all the upper crystal blocks of the mountain. We started by redesigning and redrawing the model. Ultimately we created an Ashtapad Tirth replica with 5 Shikhar design with Kalash and a Dhwaja, which was incorporated in the 10th model.
As the work continued in Jaipur, before carving the final 14.7" x 13.1" model, we decided to carve a full size marble model, to ensure no mistakes were made on the final crystal carving of the Ashtapad model. By the end of the year 2008, the final crystal model was ready. This model was exhibited at the JITO conference in Mumbai in January 2008. It was an arduous task to transport and assemble the Ashtapad model in Mumbai, but the joy and appreciation by over five hundred thousand devotees made every obstacle vanish.
The final 11th Ashtapad model was made out of rough crystal stone imported from Brazil, weighing 7.5 tons. The rough stones were cut into blocks and subsequently a total of 59 crystal blocks were used, each weighing 50 to 750 lbs. These blocks were set on a steel frame weighing over a ton. It took 3 years, 3 engineers, 2 architects, and our team to finalize the structure of a frame which would be able to hold a concentrated weight of 10 tons.
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