Ashtapad Maha Tirth 02

SR No.: 009860
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

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Chapter 07
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Ancient Tibet - History and Culture
The references of Jain pilgrims who visited Ashtapad should be found in Jain Literature. Such references can be useful to get more information about Ashtapad and they should be arranged in chronological order.
On 21" April, Friday I reached the library with Ngawang but it was closed due to a staff picnic. Next two days 22nd April (due to Second Saturday of the month) and 23rd April (Sunday) the library remained closed. On Friday I met Dr. Jampa Tsering a Tibetan medical practioner who is a friend of Ngawang. I spoke to him about the project. He advised me to see Ashang Tsering Choephel.
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This oral history of Ashtapad should be gathered from the local people of Tibet and the pilgrims to Kailash from Kashi. This oral history can enhance our knowledge and help in the research of the project.
On 22nd April, Saturday we went to Ashang Tsering Choephel's house. He is 72 years old, unmarried and a religious man. He lives a simple life like a sage. He could speak and understand a little Hindi. A young journalist and secretary of Ngari Chithun Association - Sonam Dorjee was present during our meeting. He speaks and understands Tibetan, Hindi and English languages. He had little knowledge of Gujarati Language also. He was explaining our views to Ashang. From the discussion with Ashang we got to know the following details:
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Guide books on Tibet should be examined, particularly the books written by the persons who traveled in Tibet, for example 'Seven Years in Tibet' and the books written by Swami Pranavanand etc.
Ashang Tsering Choephel was living close to Mt. Kailash, so he knew each corner of that region, he lived there till 1959.
While he was living in Kailash region, he had often seen nude sages coming to Kailash for pilgrimage. The information about Ashtapad can be gathered from such persons who had seen the nude sages in Kailash region.
There is probability of the destruction of the valuable Tibetan books and documents during the Chinese takeover.
A book on Kailash - Mansarovar written by Lama Govind from Almora should be examined for the references of Ashtapad.
On 23rd April in the evening Yogeshbhai returned to Mumbai. On that day I visited a school named Tibetan Children's Village (Upper) where they were having Sports Day.
On 24th April, Monday I went to the Library and reached the Manuscript Section, Teshi Tsering La was present there. He showed me the manuscripts and books regarding Kailash and Mansarovar and mentioned the important pages. Thus, he helped me and many important pages were copied. We reached our room in the evening, I requested Ngawang to read and explain to me the copied pages. He tried, but could not. He was unable to help me decipher the text. I decided to take the help of a scholar of Tibetan language later on.
On 25th April, Tuesday I went to Library and found the following books and magazines regarding Kailash and Mansarovar :
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Tibetan Sources for the Research of Ashtapad