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Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth
have not been able to locate the Maha Tirth, An Ashtapad Research International Foundation (ARIF) was established, which organized four seminars and various lectures to discuss all research related issues. I wish to thank all reasearch team members, scholars and scientists for their help and guidence in this project.
Shri Rishabhdev era was the dawning of world civilization and if Ashtapad is located, it will tell us about early growth of human civilization. This will open a new chapter on world history and will become a potential source of information about religion and culture of that period.
All 3 research trips to Mt. Kailash have been funded by members of JCA and other Sadharmik brothers. JCA trustee board (past and present), executive committees and all members have been extremely helpful and supportive to all various research projects.
Niranjana, my wife, has been my backbone. She took care of our family and supported me in every way possible, from trekking to Mt. Kailash in blistering cold to reading and correcting errors in papers. She has taken my passions and made them her own. It has been because of her care and concern that I have been able to finish this ten year endeavor. I would also like to thank my family members who remained patient with me during this period.
Kumar, my brother, has taken care of the business while I was involved with the temple, and his wife, Mridulaben, supervised the construction of the temple building.
I am especially grateful to my cousin, Naveen Shah, and his wife, Prabhaben, who coordinated all the work in Jaipur and helped me during all the exhibits in India.
We have organized over twenty exhibits in many major cities all over the world to raise awareness about the Ashtapad Maha Tirth. The 1st exhibit at Mumbai was blessed by late Pujya Shri Yashodevsuriji M.S. and the second exhibit at Surat was blessed by late Pujya Shri Ramsuriji Dehlawala M.S. The exhibit with JITO took place in January 2007; there was introduced to Pujya Shri Nayapadmasagarji M.S. He gave a great deal of encouragement and blessings. The exhibit at Mumbai, JITO 2008, was a grand success. Over 500,000 people visited and paid their respect to Shri Chovisi and Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth. We are thankful to many individuals, trustees & volunteers who helped during exhibitions and seminars.
Pamphlets & flyers were duly distributed during exhibitions & seminars to make people aware about Ashtapad and on going research.
This is the first time in history that a model replica of the Ashtapad Maha Tirth has been sculpted from crystal and all 24 Tirthankars idols have been carved out of colored gemstones and installed on the crystal mountain. It is worth mentioning that there aren't any replicas carved out of natural crystal and gemstone of Shri Ashtapad Tirth, similar to the original one made by King Bharat Chakravarti. You may find limited number of Tirthankar idols carved out of gemstones.
