$JES 981 Ashtapad Tirth Booklet

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

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SHRI ASHTÄPAD MAHÄ-TIRTH
special Knowledge (Avadhi-jnän) came to know of this and with the idea of protecting the temple; pressed the mountain with his toe. Because of the unbearable pressure Rävan started crying and begged for pardon. Subsequently Rävan went up the Ashtapad Mountain with his wife Mandodari to worship. Filled with joy she started dancing while Rävan played the Veena (musical instrument like guitar). Accidentally a wire from the Veena broke. Thinking this could be an interruption in her devotional dance; he pulled out a vein from his arm (with the help of Läghav Vidhyä) and replaced the broken wire of the Veena. This way he kept playing Veena. And then they performed pooja and offered prayers to all the idols. Thus Rävan attained Tirthankar Näm-karma and a place in the future Chovisi.
There Rävan met with Dharnendra Dev, who was visiting the Ashtapad Tirth. He was very impressed with his devotion and his musical talent. He presented him with Amodh Vijaya Shakti.
9.0 Rani Veermati In one of the previous life of queen Damayanti, while traveling Mamman King and queen Veermati met a monk (Muniraj). The monk delivered a sermon about the uselessness of worldly affairs. Mamman King then apologized and bowed to Muniraj. He asked Muniraj, where was he going? Muniraj replied that he was going to visit Ashtapad Tirth and to worship there also. Since then Rani Veermati decided to visit Ashtapad Tirth and worship there. After long penance, Shäsan Devi (goddess) came to help with her Viman and took her to Ashtapad. She prayed to all 24 Tirthankaras and placed a gold Tilak studded with Gem Stones on the forehead of all the idols. Due to this, subsequently during the life of Rani Damayanti her forehead was glowing like Ruby Tilak which she had adorned on all the Tirthankaras in her previous life.
10.0 Shri Munisuvrat Swami The 20th Tirthankar Shri Munisuvrat-swami went to Ashtapad for meditation and penance during his life time with his disciples. As per literature he is the only Tirthankar after Adinath who went to Ashtäpad for meditation and penance. 11.0 Shri Padliptsuri Acharya Pädliptsuri who was staying on Shatrunjay, decided to move to Girnar. At that time, he went to Ashtäpad with the help of Äkäsh Gämi Vidhyä (spiritual powers to fly) to worship there.
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