$JES 981 Ashtapad Tirth Booklet

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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SHRI ASHTÄPAD MAHÄ-TIRTH
Poster Picture Commercially Available
TRENCH Mount Kailash
Mount Ashtapad
8.3 Probable Site of Ashtapad The map shows the probable position of the Ashtapad Mountain up in the Himalayas. It is about 168 miles north of Badrinath. Kailash Mountain also known as KANG RIM POCHE, is 25 miles north of Mansarovar. Between Mansarovar (Padma Had) and Kailash, about 5-7 miles NE, is another mountain called Ashtapad.
This mountain is 8 miles in height and is covered with white rocks and hence also known as Dhawalgiri. One can walk from “DARECHIN” after crossing about 15-20 mountain hills, and one will reach there in 4 to 6 hours.
Buddhist pilgrims call this mountain "Kang Siche." About 40 km away there is another mountain peak called "Gurala Mandhata". Mandhata is a name derived from King Sagar's ancestors. Between Kailash and Gurala Mandhata, there is a lake called Rakshash Tal. Bharat Hansraj who took many pictures of Nandi Mountain, says that the pictures match the description of Ashtapad with the 8 steps and a sphinx. We are trying to work with the satellite pictures so that one can locate any buried structure. Latest report from Mr. P.S. Thakker is being studied. Ref Vol XI Chapter 80 Article B Pg 4973.
The probable site of Ashtapad is located to the south east of Mt. Kailash (6638m), which is 5996 meter high. Mt Kailash is known as to Kang Rinpoche/ Gang Ti-se. It is 5km SE of Dira Phug: 5 km s/w of Dolma La. 7.5 km NW of Zutul Phug: 8 km NE of Gyandreg Monastery: 8.5 km N/E of Serlung Gompa. 9 km N/E of Darphochel Yam Dwar, or Moksha Dwar. It is 2.5 km to the east of 13 Drigung- Kagyu Chorten: 2 km to the east of Ser Dung Chuksum La, or 2.5km SW of Gangpo- Sanglam La. The site is easily approachable from Serdung Chuksum La or Gangpo Sanglam La.
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