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Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth_
Shri Gautam Swami
shtapad the same life mission from
When Bhagwan Mahavir established the Chaturvidha Sangha, Indrabhuti Gautam was his first disciple. Bhagwan Mahavir said in his sermon, "A person who scales Ashtapad & offers prayers to 24 Tirthankars attains Moksha in the same life." When Gautam Swami heard this, he requested permission from Bhagwan Mahavir to go to Ashtapad. With the help of spiritual power, Gautam Swami scaled Ashtapad Mountain by holding onto sunrays as a rope. He offered his prayers to 24 Tirthankars & compiled the first verse of Jag-Chintamani Sutram.
spiritual
Tapas Kheer Parna
When Gautam Swami arrived at the bottom of the Ashtapad Mountain, he saw 3 ascetics, with 500 disciples each trying to scale Mount Ashtapad, who could not climb more than 3 steps. Next morning when he came down, all 1503 Tapas were impressed by his achievement and wanted to be his disciples. Due to their earnest desire he initiated them. As all the Tapas were fasting for 3 days, Gautam Swami arranged Kheer (rice cooked in milk) for Parna. 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. Upon arrival, they saw Mahavir Swami in Samavasaran, and Gautam Swami asked all Tapas to sit along with other Sadhu. Then Bhagwan Mahavir said, "Gautam! You need to bow to these Kevalis." Now Gautam Swami realized that all Tapas had become Kevali.
Tiryank Jrumbhak Dev 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.
Ratna Mandir
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