________________
Tapas Story - Kheer Parna Once Bhagwan Mahavir said in his sermon, "Anyone who will scale Mount Ashtapad and offer prayers to all the 24 Tirthankars will get salvation". When Gautam Swami learned this, he decided to go to Ashtapad. At this time 3 Tapas, each having 500 disciples, were trying to scale Mount Ashtapad. With the help of spiritual power (Labdhi) - holding the sunrays as rope - Gautam swami scaled the Ashtapad Mountain. Next day morning when he came down, all 1503 Tapas, impressed by his achievement became Mahavir's disciples. All the Tapas were fasting for 3 days so Gautam Swami arranged for Kheer Parna. As the quantity of Kheer was not enough, he put his thumb in the vessel so that everyone could do Kheer Parna. Since all Tapas had pure heart & mind, all of them became Kevli.
Naag Kumar & Sagar's Sons King Sagar had sixty thousand sons. Impressed with the beauty of Ashtapad Palace these princes wanted to provide protection. The Princes decided to dig a trench around the mountain and fill it with the holy water from the Ganges. This disturbed Naag Kumar Dev so he came out and with his flame he reduced all 60000 princes to the ashes.
Naag Kumar & Sagar's Sons
Ravan - Mandodari Bhakti Ravan went up the Ashtapad Mountain with his wife Mandodari. Filled with joy she went up the mountain dancing while Ravan played Veena. Accidentally a wire from Veena got loose and broke. Thinking his wife may stop dancing, he pulled out a vein from his arm & replaced the wire. This way he kept playing Veena till they arrived at the top of Ashtapad. They performed pooja and offered prayers to all the idols. This way Ravan attained Tirthankar Gotra & a place in upcoming Chovishi.
