Jain Center of America Inc., New York has constructed a new temple for worship and other religious activities in 2005. Since then JCA has been gifted with a replica of Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth, sculpted from crystal and gemstones, which was installed at the center in 2010.
To learn more about Ashtapad a lot of literature was collected from scriptures and compiled in XX Volumes. These articles are now being reviewed and a 10% selection of appx. 900 pages are being printed in 2 parts. Part 1 contains articles from scriptures (presented in this volume). While Part II which is related to research on Ashtapad will be published later on.
Whole granth is divided in eight chapters. A small introduction to each chapter is as follows:
Chapter 1 contains original articles from scriptures. Some articles are complete while others are abstracts which are related to Ashtapad. First reference has been found in Aacharang Niryukti. Articles are rearranged that older ones come first in a chronological order. We have tried to collect and put all the material from scriptures in the original format in this granth.
Chapter 2 has analytical articles by many Acharyas and Scholars and the interpretations of articles from the scriptures. Only few articles are selected which has a direct reference to Ashtapad. For all other articles one can refer to Code A in the index with cross reference as given in volume XX chapter 157 and in the DVD.
Chapter 3 has a summary about Shri Rushabhdev Bhagwan and analytical review. We have given the life of Shri Rushabhdev in short. Analytical review includes references about Shri Rushabhdev in Jain Vedic and Western Literature. For other details one can refer to Code R in the index with cross reference in the DVD.
Chapter 4 has Ashtapad related stories like King Bharat, Shri Gautam Swami, and others. All the stories are given as a short summary. For other details one can refer to Code S in the index with cross reference in the DVD.
Chapter 5 has Ashtapad Pooja by Shri Deepvijayji M.S. and various Stavans, Aarti and Stutis. Explanation of all the Poojas with its meanings are also given in detail. There are couple of more poojas written by others which you can find in DVD - under heading of Pooja and stavans. We also have over hundred stavans in the DVD which one can refer to. For more details refer to code P & Q in the index with cross reference in the DVD.
Chapter 6 is about Jain Center of America, with details about 5 floors in the building, an information wall, floor plans, and a small description about the facilities provided. Also included is a summary of artwork including pat, paintings, panels, posters and others-A pictorial guide to Jainism. It is a place of worship for all 5 traditions - A Unity in Diversity. To best of our knowledge this is the only temple where all 5 different traditions can worship at one place, pray at Ashtapad, meet in the Bhojanshala and eat together.
Chapter 7 discusses about Ashtapad- the 10 year story of model making, development of concept, sculpting of mountain from crystal and carving of idols from gemstones. Details about various exhibits, seminars, and research work is given. Religious ceremonies including installation of Ashtapad Mountain and Shri Chovisi is described as well. This is the only Ashtapad Tirth carved from crystal and gemstones that exist. All are welcome to pray and have Darshan of this Tirth till we are able to locate the lost one.
Chapter 8, the last chapter, includes a selected article index with cross reference and their code from Volume I to XX. List of authors whose articles are taken in XX volumes has also been given. Full listing of all XX volume index with cross reference and code is given in DVD which one can refer under Code I. You can also find the listing in Volume XX Ch. 157 Page 8890 to 9100 in the DVD. List of reference books is given at the end of Chapter 8.
Details about each article as it appears in volume I to XX with chapter and page numbers are given at the bottom for ready reference at the beginning of each article. Granth name is printed on upper corners while article name is printed on lower corners of all the pages.
All the above material is presented in over 500 pages in part I. About one hundred pages are printed on art paper with plenty of pictures and photos about the temple, model making, exhibits, seminars, research and various functions including Pratishtha ceremonies.
The cover page shows Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth as installed at New York and the back page has the building elevation. Inside cover page we have Shri Chovisi and in the back Kailash Mansarovar. Bookmark has Shri Rushabhdev idol, building elevation, and Asthapad image.
The granth has a hard cover and it includes 2 DVDs of all the material collected and compiled into XX volumes. These DVDs are placed in the pockets inside the hard back cover.
We have collected many articles from scriptures and various other sources. We have tried to give original reference from where the article was collected. This will give the authenticity to the article. Some articles are presented as a whole while in some articles only a part is selected which relates to Ashtapad. This was done to avoid other than Ashtapad material. We have tried to clarify this in the beginning of each article. Hope the reader and the writer will excuse us for this.
Regarding the language of this granth it is multi-lingual. We have articles in Prakrut, Sanskrit, Ardh-Magadhi and Shorshaini. Also we have articles in Hindi, English and Gujarati. All the original articles have been presented in their own languages as to maintain their authenticity and with translation if necessary.
A word about the part II which will follow soon: It will contain research related material on Ashtapad, field trips to Kailash Mansarovar region, satellite imaging, discussion seminars and related articles. A small summary of Tibetan history and Bon Po, an indigenous religion of Tibet, is also given. The research work done previously and at present is being put together along with analytical review. A proposal for further research is also suggested.
These 2 parts of the Granth is a kind of work on Ashtapad literature which has never before been compiled and there hasn't been a granth written exclusively on Ashtapad.
We acknowledge with great honor and pleasure and pay our respect to all the Acharyas, scholars and authors whose articles have been collected and compiled in XX volumes specially those, whose articles have been selected and put together in this granth.
Pujya Ganivarya Naypadmasagar M. S. under his guidance we organized many exhibits and seminars. With his blessings Adhar abhisek were performed at Mumbai before sending 24 idols to New York for final installation on Ashtapad mountain at JCA.
Pujya Muni Shri Ramyadarshanvijay M. S. He advised and guided us regarding construction of Ashtapad model and various story carvings. He was instrumental in forcing us to do 5 Shikhar design as well as Ash Pratiharya carvings which in the beginning was thought to be not practical.
Pujya Shri Jinchandra M. S. who helped us all along the way for 10 years during temple construction and till Ashtapad Pratishtha was performed.
Pujya Bhadrabahu and Pujya Chandanbala shriji M. S. for their guidance and help.
We wish to thank staff at Kailashsagarsuri Gyan Mandir, Koba for giving us original Granths and books whenever needed for reference.
Many individuals have helped in collecting the articles from literature. We wish to mention about (Late) Shri Babubhai Kadiwala, Shri Prameshbhai Gandhi, Bharatbhai Hansaraj Shah, Dr. Lata Bothra, Dr. Ajitbhai Shah, Shri Mayurbhai Desai, (Late) Dr. Kamal Sogani and many other individuals whose list is endless. There were many helping hands without which such a long journey was not possible.
We wish to thank Dr. Kumarpalbhai Desai and his staff for their help in collecting the articles and guiding us in the granth printing.
Our thanks to Rahul Jain and Miss Sonali Daga who organized and put all the articles together and prepared and printed all the XX volumes at New York. At the same time we wish to thank Mr. Vimal Bordia who took care of printing at Jaipur and mailing all the volumes. He also looked after Ashtapad research activity for last 10 years at Jaipur.
Our thanks to Naresh T. Shah for his help in preparing cross reference and in the selection of articles.
Special thanks to Miss Archana Parikh who constantly helped in preparing the index and editing the articles including proof-reading. She also looked after Ashtapad research activities at L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad. She helped in organizing the meetings, seminars and research tours. Thanks to Miss Nirali Shah who helped all along in editing & proof reading. They both also helped in Pratishtha ceremonies at New York.
We wish to thank our research team members - scholars and scientists details for which will be given in part II. Special thanks to Shri Jitendrabhai Shah, director at L. D. Institute of Indology and the staff where part of research work was co-ordinated.
We wish to thank Mohnot family (Shri Nareshji, Dineshji and Rakeshji) and their staff for supervising the making of Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth. Special thanks to all the artisans who carved the Mountain and the Idols.
Our thanks to Shri Nilesh Parekh of Paras Prints and Shri Samir Parekh of Creative Page Setters, who took the responsibility of putting all the pages in order, from typesetting, arranging the articles, and finally printing and shipping the granth and putting it in your hand.
We wish to thank all our sponsors whose generous donation has helped to print this granth (both parts) and contributed towards the DVD.
We wish to thank members, executive committee and board of trustees (past and present) at Jain Center of America inc., New York for granting us the permission to construct the temple and to install Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth with Shri Chovisi at JCA.
For the information of the readers, it was my desire to make Ashtapad Tirth in India. This was in my mind and heart since our first exhibit in Mumbai in year 2004.1 was not present then but when I read the visitors books, I could not hold my tears. Since then I had decided that after I finish my work at New York I will take up this project in India.
Some of the newer articles collected are included in the Granth. They will be put together in upcoming Volume XXI. We will continue collecting material and include them in further upcoming Volumes.
I have requested the research team at L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahemdabad to continue research work and follow it up till the lost Tirth is located. I wish them success.
Some of the articles related to Ashtapad may still be missing from our collections. If any reader comes across any Ashtapad related material please forward it to us, we will appreciate.
Jai Jinendra.
Dr. Rajnikant Shah
Feb 1,2010 Meru Teras
Veer Samvat 2537 Vikram Samvat 2067
Shri Rushabhdev Nirvan Kalyanak
