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Chapter 02
Three Field Trip Reports
control has passed several hands and is apparently improvised versions of earlier monuments the history of which is lost much to antiquity although thank as in the region do mention the holy cave. Nirvan, being a culmination of an elaborate spiritual affair of Self actualization would at the minimum need a quiet and a stable sheltered environment away from the prying eyes of the public and pilgrims. The sacredness of the place of retreat has a powerful emotional appeal to say the least on the subject and in turn is rendered sacred by the lofty spiritual attainment of the subject. No place in the surrounds of the Kailash Mansarovar region can impact as much as the cave in Mount Kailash itself and it is no wonder that mystics of various cultural origins retreated to the holy cave. Shri Aadinathji could not have been an exception and Ashtapad identified as Mount Kailash itself, the Serdung Chuksum (Saptarishi cave) is where Shri Aadinathji would have attained Nirvana and thus rendering it as the holiest of all Jain pilgrim sites. It is easy to dismiss a statement citing lack of evidence but I think logic based on common sense makes for a very strong case and I would say that it may be illogical to abandon this hypothesis unless there is evidence to the contrary.
The holy cave of Serdung Chuksum (Sapta Rishi Cave)
I have visited the Serdung Chuksum twice (June 2006 with Swami Bikash Giri of 'Sumeru Parvat' fame and June 2009) and although I have met pilgrims (albeit few) who have been around Nandi by crossing the Phur-dod-la bypassing the cave altogether (of course one can get a long shot view of the cave just before one is atop the pass) owing to its almost perpendicular and treacherous ascent, I am not sure if any of them could ever visit the cave (the details of the cave can be seen in the pictures already sent by me). I believe a first hand experience of the cave is a must for forming any opinion on the most probable site of Nirvana of Shri Aadinathji. I strongly recommend a visit to the cave to anyone seriously interested. I can conclude based on my convictions that the cave is indeed the site of Shri Aadinathji's Nirvan.
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-The Ashtapad Initiative
