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Chapter 02
Three Field Trip Reports
total 360/400 yatris are given Chinese visa for this yatra The yatra starts from Delhi and ends at Delhi in 30/31 days. Total journey by automobile is approximately 1440 km., and trekking including parikrama of Mount Kailash and holy Mansarovar is 330 km. The highest altitude reached is 18700 ft at Dolma Pass. On trekking route, use of horse and yak is optional. By the grace of god I completed first three yatras on foot by this route. Fourth yatra by air-road route; Kathmandu-Lhasa 1000 km air travel overlooking Mt. Everest peak, Lhasa - Kailash road journey. Fifth Yatra route Kathmandu -Kailash 900 km by road. Both these yatras were sponsored by Jain Center of America, New York During my first pilgrimage I came to know the place called Ashtapad. It is the Nirvana place of Lord Aadinath Rushabhdev, the first Tirthankar of Jainism. In Jain literature it is mentioned that, Chakravarti Bharat, son of first Tirthankar Lord Aadinath Rushabhdev, built huge temple of all 24 Tirthankars at Ashtapad. Jainism is an important religion in India. Its followers are settled abroad also. Mainly Gujarati, Marwari and Punjabi community follow this religion. Darshan, Gyan, Charitra, Tapasya and above all Non-Violence are its main Preachings. In this religion followers worship twenty four Tirthankars. Aadinath Rushabhdev is first Tirthankar and Vardhaman Mahavir is twenty-fourth Tirthankar of present Chovisi. At any time there was only one Tirthankar to guide that prevailing time's community. It is believed that next Tirthankar came only after the Nirvana of previous Tirthankar. Twenty fourth Tirthankar Lord Mahavir attained Nirvana on 15th October 527 B.C. i.e. 2525 years ago. Lord Mahavir's discourses covered all subjects of this world. It is said he delivered the Desna i.e. Discourses by sitting on Samavasaran made by Indra in such a manner that his face was visible in all four directions. The Samavasaran attended by all living beings, deities, human beings, animals, birds etc. It is also believed, his discourses were audible to each living being in its own understanding. Lord's discourses are called Aagam Vani. Lord Mahavir gave discourses on religion, science, mathematics, geography, sociology, astrology, history, future, universe etc. These discourses mentioned above as Aagam Vani, were retold and written by his followers, who had adopted spiritual life/saints life and who had gained mastery in their subjects of choice as mentioned above. These scripts written are known as Aagam granth and are at present of immense importance. These granths are deeply studied at present by all ancient language scholars world over. Its scientific and mathematical approaches are amazing. As time passed the knowledge was distributed by way of lectures and write-ups by saints and scholars of the society. Among most revered and authentic saints of this religion was Acharya Hemachandracharyasuriji (Vikram Samvat 1145-1229). He was a saint in the kingdom of Sidhdhraj Jaysinh and Kumarpal, the rulers of Patan in Gujarat some 850 years ago. His book Trishashthi Shalaka Purush Charitra is a masterpiece of this religion. It consists of detailed studies on lives of 63 most important characters of the society. Details given of 24 Tirthankars. 12 Chakravartis, i.e. King of kings, 9 Vasudev, 9 Prati-vasudev and 9 Balbhadra. All these dignitaries are well accepted in Jain and Hindu mythology. As per Jain scriptures, the first Tirthankar Bhagwan Rushabhdev attained Nirvana on the Ashtapad Mountain, Mahavir Swami at Pavapuri, Vasupujya Swami at Champapuri and Bhagwan Neminath
Shree Ashtapad - a possibility
