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SHRI ASHTÄPAD MAHÄ-TIRTH
lie in material possessions but comes from within. He realized that "all these years I have been taking great care of my body and spending a great amount of time adorning it. I should rather renounce all worldly pleasures and desires and focus on what lies within." Thus by reaching the highest form of contemplation in his mind, he was able to break away from the bonds of Ghäti Karma and attained keval-Jnän at that moment.
6.0 Shri Gautam Swami When Bhagawan Mahävir established the Chaturvidha Sangha (a society consisting of Shri Sädhus (monks), Sädhvis (nuns), Shrävak, and Shrävikä (household people) at Päväpuri, Indrabhuti Gautam was the first disciple of Bhagawan Mahävir along with his 500 followers.
Once Bhagawan Mahävir said in his sermon, "A person who scales Ashtapad and offers prayers to all 24 Tirthankars attains liberation (Moksha) in the same life". When Gautam Swami learned this, he decided to go to Ashtapad after seeking permission from Bhagawan Mahävir.
When he arrived at the bottom of the Ashtapad Mountain, he saw 3 ascetics, with 500 disciples each trying to scale Mount Ashtapad. One group could climb only up to the 1st step, the other group climbed only up to the 2nd step and the third stopped at the 3rd step. None of them could climb further. With the help of spiritual power (Atma-Labhdhi), Gautam Swami scaled the Ashtapad Mountain by holding the sunrays as a rope. He offered his prayers to all the 24 Tirthankars and stayed there overnight. There he compiled the first two verses of Jagachintamani Sutra.
That night a heavenly god named Vaishraman (Tiryank Jrumbhak dev, in one of the previous life of a great sage Vajra-swami) also came there to worship. He saw Gautam Swami who looked very handsome and healthy. He thought how can this monk do penance and still look this healthy. Gautam Swami read his mind and told the story of Pundarik and Kandarik and explained that an emaciated body is not the indication of penance. But to control the soul through meritorious meditation is real penance. This way he cleared the doubt of the heavenly god. Next morning when he came down, all 1503 Täpas were impressed by his achievement and wanted to be his disciples. Gautam Swami insisted that they should be Bhagawan Mahävir's disciples. However due to their earnest desire he initiated them. As all the Täpas were fasting for 3 days, Gautam Swami arranged for Kheer (rice cooked in milk) Pärnä. Even though the quantity of Kheer was not enough, due to his spiritual power he could feed Kheer to all of them by putting his thumb in the vessel. During Pärnä, 501 Täpas, now ascetics, became Kevali. On the
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