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30 | Tibetan sources for the research of Ashtapad
Thomas Parmar
Since 2005 I have been working for Ashtapad Research. I had presented a paper titled, “The similarity between Lord Shiva and Bhagwan Rushabhdev", in seminar on Ashtapad arranged at Ahmedabad in January, 2005. After this seminar my interest for the location of Ashtapad increased. I was encouraged by Dr. Rajnikant Shah and Padmashri Dr. Kumarpal Desai to visit Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) at Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) to find the references about Jainism and Ashtapad from Tibetan sources. Twice I visited LTWA (April 2006 and April 2009) and during my two visits I referred to some books on Tibetan history, culture, religion and archaeology and interviewed some scholars and officers of LTWA and Tibetan scholars at Dharamsala. First visit to Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA), Dharamsala The Project to find references of Ashtapad in Tibetan manuscripts I was invited by Dr. Rajnikant Shah and Dr. Kumarpal Desai on 23rd Feb. 2006 to discuss about the references of Ashtapad in Tibetan manuscripts. We discussed in detail about the topic. They asked for my consent to visit the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) situated at Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) and to find the references of Ashtapad from the Tibetan manuscripts and books preserved in it. I expressed my willingness to go to Dharamsala for the project. It was decided that an expert would be provided to me who can read the Tibetan manuscripts and books and can explain to me in Hindi or English. On 20th April, I reached Dharamsala with Shri Yogeshbhai Kothari of Shiv Darshan Adventure Pvt. Ltd. A Nepalese named Ngawang knowing Tibetan language had arrived at Dharamshala in the morning. He was sent by Kiran Lama - a Nepalese tour operator. After lunch we visited LTWA, there I met Sonam Topgyal, person in charge of the Manuscript Section. I explained to him the aim of our project. I requested him to help us find the manuscripts and books regarding the project and to suggest the names of local historians and scholars who have knowledge about our topic. He suggested two names: (1) Teshi Tsering La and (2) Ashang Tsering Choephel. From the library we went to see Mr. Teshi Tsering La. We explained to him in detail about the project. He listened to us carefully. He realized that we had come here to research the particular subject. He congratulated us for coming here so far from Ahmedabad and Mumbai. His suggestions for the project were as follows: 1. He had no information about the reference of Ashtapad in Tibetan manuscripts and
added that there is no possibility of it.
Ref. Vol. XVI Ch. 124 I Pg. 7340-7342
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