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Chapter 02
Three Field Trip Reports
snow, streams, rivers, lakes and valley with little grass and few animals, birds and few people. Construction activity and ruins are to be proven yet. We only see and feel nature. Snow, rainwind and time which have caused stones to break and slide down as you look at mountainsone could see lots of cracks in stones. It seems that many of them are brittle. Geologists have to check and give a special report about the brittleness of stones and effect of weather and natures. What looks and seems natural- stones are breaking down all along the way on the sides all the time on the way to Kailash- one finds pieces of rocks lying around- spread all over- it is a rocky terrain and whole area is sprayed with rocks. If we look at the mountain, we see step like structures of the mountains as if it is carved by humans. Again carved by nature could be another possible explanation. And because of weather, stones keep breaking and sliding down and only leaving behind partial step formations. In the end, some mountain structures stay strong, while others remain brittle and breakdown. Regular & Aerial Photographs With the study of photos whatever is available, one could not convince oneself that there is a temple or any evidence of construction activity. Satellite pictures may help and of course archaeologists have to dig in and try to find the ruins and other evidence. Dr. P.S. Thakker has located a site for Ashtapad with the help of aerial photographs south-east of Kailash. Site is known as Dharma King Norsang. Dharma King means king of religion and Norsang means lion in human beings. This may match with Sinh Nishadhya Palace constructed by King Bharat. There is a trench surrounding the area. This may match with King Sagar's sixty thousand princes' story. The place has yet to be confirmed. Details are to be carried out using GIS and other satellite data followed by archaeological excavation. Conclusion As of today we have not come across (in ten days) any Siddh Purush, a special person, monk or lama worshipping there or staying there. In ten day's experience it will be very hard to say, if not impossible. To survive the winter here is hard. With the snow in winter all over one cannot do anything, even the lake gets frozen, what one will eat or drink and what help one can get. To me there are many issues that need to be addressed. It may be very simple thinking and we may not understand all the details, but the fact remains that it is all nature there. To go beyond, one has to have special vision, special thinking, and special knowledge to fully understand and believe that something else once existed and that the stories of the past are true and facts beyond all doubts. This is entirely my personal observation and strictly my own view. What I saw within a short period of ten days and what impression I have, I am just describing it. It needs further research and not only on religious front but also from history, geography, geology, archaeology, civilization and culture. A broad based team with many facets- people from different walks of life-should work together and work on scientific basis with all modern tools available for research. One needs time and funds to undertake such a monumental task. It will not be easy with so many different religious views or faiths- it will be very hard to prove or disprove some things. In conclusion it is all nature and no physical evidence could be found as of today. I wish to
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Field Trip I - Summary Report
| SR No. | 009860 |
| Book Title | Ashtapad Maha Tirth 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Rajnikant Shah, Others |
| Publisher | USA Jain Center America NY |
| Publication Year | 2012 |
| Total Pages | 532 |
| Language | Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati |
| Classification | Book_Devnagari |
| File Size | 26 MB |