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10 ASTAPADA, SAMMETA-SIKHARA AND PANCA-MERU
On Aştăpada mountain Rṣabhadeva attained his nirvana. Near his cremation-ground Bharata erected a temple, of jewelled slabs, named Simhaniṣadyă, with statues of the Sasvata-Jinas as also the twenty-four Jinas of this age. Bharata also installed statues of his ninety-nine brothers who had obtained Nirvana, on this mountain, along with Rsabhanatha. Moreover, he placed a statue of himself listening attentively like a faithful devotee. Bharata raised the Blesssed One's (Rsabha's) Stupa and those of his 99 brothers outside the shrine. In order to save these from future damage at the hands of mortals, he placed mechanical iron guardsmen; cutting off the projections of the mountain, he made it steep and straight, and impossible for men to climb. He then made eight (asfa) steps (pada) around it in the form of terraces impossible for men to cross and each step one yojana apart from the next one. From that time the mountain was called Aşṭapada. Among the people it was known as 'Harådri' 'Kailasa, and Sphatikǎdri.1
Such is the origin of the name of the mount Aşṭāpada according to Hemacandra. The Vasudevahindi tells us how Aşţăpada came to be regarded as a tirtha and says that here Bharata erected stupas and shrine, and installed images therein when Rsabha obtained nirvana on this mount with a thousand monks. The text does not give any explanation of the name Aṣṭāpada. Astapada is an old Jaina tirtha since it is referred to by the Jambudvipaprajñapti and the Acârânga-Niryukti. "
Gautama, the first Gapadhara of Mahavira, was told by his Master that whoever is able to reach the top of this mountain and worship the Caityas thereon obtains emancipation. He, therefore, with his supernatural power, climbed it like a flash of light. Some tapasas (Brahmanical monks!) were attempting to do so and could not go beyond the third terrace. At the sight of Gautama, they got enlightenment and obtained liberation. Gautama reached the top and, entering the Simhanişadya-Caitya by the South gate, he
1 Trişaşti, (GOS.) I., pp. 358-370; Abhidhana Cintamani, IV. 94. Vasudevahindi, p. 301. Gods are said to have created on the site of Rṣabha's Nirvāņa on Aṣṭāpada, three stūpas of jewels, see Jambudvipaprajñapti, sütra 33.
3 Jambu., op. cit.
4 Cf. :- अडावयमुजि गयगपद धम्मच य ।
पासरहावत्तनयं चमरुप्पार्थ च वंदामि ॥
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