$JES 981 Ashtapad Tirth Booklet

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

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SHRI ASHTÄPAD MAHÄ-TIRTH
Dänam” meaning "best gift". This day is known as Akshaya Tritiya. Since then, the tradition of Varsi Tapa penance and its fast breaking ceremony "Pärnä” has been followed.
3.0 Keval-Jnän & Nirväna of Rishabhadev Bhagawan Bhagawan Rishabhadev traveled extensively for many years. All along he led an austere life, walking barefoot and engaging Himself in the meditation of self. After fasting for three consecutive days (Attham Tapa), while sitting under a banyan tree in deep meditation, he attained Keval-Jnän (absolute knowledge). Indra and other gods thronged there to celebrate the fourth Kalyanak (Keval-Jnän). They constructed a divine Assembly Hall known as Samavasaran for Rishabhadev's first sermon. When he learnt that his life is coming to an end, he went to Mt Ashtapad along with 10,000 monks for Santhärä (fasting unto death). After six days of fasting, Bhagawan attained Nirvana and became Siddha, a pure soul. 4.0 King Bharat Chakravarti Bharat was the eldest son of Ädinäth or Rishabhadev Bhagawan. After Adinäth Bhagawan's Dikshä Mahotsav, Bharat became the King. Upon hearing of Adinath Bhagawan's Nirvana, Bharat went to Ashtapad Mountain to pay his homage. Overwhelmed by grief, Bharat lit the funeral pyre. After the cremation, he decided to construct a Ratnamay (gemstone studded) palace in the memory of Adinath Bhagawan on Ashtäpad Mountain and installed idols of 24 Tirthankaras as per the description given by Shri Adinäth Bhagawän during his sermon.
Bharat Chakravarti
Areesha Mahal
5.0 King Bharat and Areesha Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) Once, King Bharat was looking in the mirror in his palace, after adoring himself completely with ornaments from head to toe. Accidentally one of the rings fell down from his finger. Now his bare finger made him wonder how he would look without ornaments on his body. He removed all his ornaments. Suddenly, he realized that his beauty was due to the ornaments and hence illusionary. He realized that true beauty does not
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