Jain Center of America NY 2005 06 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center of America NY
Publisher: USA Jain Center America NY

Page 155

Even today the mountain is covered in snow and going near is next to impossible. Most of the people have its glimpse about 4 miles away from the mountains. Well-known scholar Shri Hiralal Duggad has noted, after observing the mountain, in his book that "this mountain appears like the construction of samovasaran (holy assembly)."
Swami Pranavanand stayed on Mount Kailash for two years and undertook researches from Hindu and Tibetian angles. In his volume 'Kailash and Mansarovar' in english, he has observed that "it is assumed that the first Jaini Tirthankar attained Nirvana on Mount Kailash and Kailash is known as Ashtapad." At the foot of Kailash, there is a mountain called Nandi in the south. Nandi means a bull. It is well-known that Tirthankar Rishabhdev's lanchchan (symbol) is a bull. Just as a bull is always seated in front of Lord Shiva, it is natural that Nandi is situated in front of Rishabhdev.
20 Km. from Mount Kailash is a snowclad majestic mountain known as Gurulamandhata. Madhanta is the name of the ancestor of Sagar Chakravarti. Between Mount Kailash and Gurulamandhata Mountains is a large and beautiful lake known as Ravan Taal. References of Ravan and to music and dancing near Ashtapad Mountain by Ravan-Mandodari are found in Jain texts. In some Tibetian scriptures there is a reference to Shri Munisuvratswami, the 20th Tirthankar, having visited the place.
Some poets have described the snow-covered peaks of Ashtapad visible in a clear sky from the top of the tree on the outskirts of Ayodhya. Ayodhya is well-known as the birthplace of Bhagwan Rishabhdev. Is there a link between the places of birth and Nirvana? According to Jain folklore, about 160 people including Bhagwan Rishabhdev and his ninety-nine sons attained Nirvana on this mountain. Three stupa (pillars) were erected to commemorate this event. Bharat Chakravarti constructed a temple Sinhanishdya at this place which was huge and elegant. In one of his letters, Sahajanandghanji has noted that Mount Kailash is known as Ashtapad. 72 Jinalayas Shrines - covered with snow exist in Tibetan territory. The Jain idols around the place are under the supervision of Buddhists. Today, the territory is under the control of China. It is rare for a human to set foot on these mountains. Anyone getting its glimpse from a distance is bound to experience unearthly joy and will be filled with spiritual fervor. Words are inadequate to describe the spiritual and celestial pleasure one experiences; and the sky, mountains and clouds are in complete harmony and the sight is other worldly.
Mount Kailash is the abode of Shiva and the thirteenth day of (vad) the month Maha [Hindu Calendar) is known as Shivratri, also the day of Nirvana of Tirthankar Rishabhdev is the thirteenth day (vad] of the month of Posha of the Hindu Calender.
A number of letters have been received regarding the series of articles written on Ashtapad Tirth. According to Shri Pramesh Gandhi, the latest research by MIT of America says the human civilization must have originated in Tibet. Is it possible that it was the beginning of development of Asi (weapons), Masi (writing) and Krishi (agriculture) of Rishabhdev? Swami Pranavanand, who has undertaken pilgrimage to Kailash thirty-five times, has authored a book on Kailas-Mansarovar and the preface is by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He has also affirmed that Kailash is Meru and Ashtapad.
Shri Pramesh Gandhi narrates his extraordinary experience and writes that nonagenarian Rambaba was with him during the pilgrimage. This Sadhu had performed the last rites of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He also pointed to a peak near Kailash and said that it was Ashtapad. It had the same shape as Pramesh Gandhi had seen in the pictures of Ashtapad in the shrines. He saw the peak from a distance surrounded by a deep valley. Today it is difficult to climb the peak.
oronovoosnova
DO O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0.0 00:00:00 OOOOOOOOOOOOOX
PURPURUSUHU V