Ashtapad Tirtha

Carrying the meaning ‘eight steps’ and incorporating an array of abundant caves, the Ashtapad is one of the most beguiling pilgrimage spots in Jain religion…

Mount Kailash also considered as the ‘heavenly abode of Lord Shiva’ is accompanied with high divinity and a really pure beauty. A lifeline for some of the majestic rivers in Asia as well as the spiritual centre for the main religions- Hinduism, Jainism as well as Budhhism, this majestic peak is continually acting as a sheath for the devotees from all across th globe. The pilgrims have to participate in the 52 km Parikrama of the mighty Mount Kailash that is considered to be a difficult one but its results are meant to be very fruitful. The place experiences varied weather conditions and during some months they are even worse and thus, the tour of Mount Kailash is open for the devotees for a period of three to four months.

Ashtapad is considered to be one of the most splendid pilgrimage hubs and is spotted by the tourists when they are on their way to the holy abode Mount Kailash. This destination is prominently recognized as the utmost satisfaction both spiritually and historically for each and every participant present in the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Also known as the Ashtapad Tirth, this is none other than a mountain that is ardently looked upon by thousands of pilgrims every year for a definite period of time. This Tirth is widely renowned because as assumed and notified, Bhagwan Rushabhdev who is the first Jain Tithankar was facilitated with the attainment of Nirvana and as a result is thus named as the most pious Jain Shrine. When he received the Nirvana, his son named as Chakravarti King Bharat established a temple intending for treating it as a memorial for the commemoration of the his father’s Nirvana. The palace was made with crystal and the gemstones.

Ashtapad means ‘eight steps’ which might be informing that the ascending of the mountain can be done in eight giant steps or there exists an array of eight mountain peaks and also because the eight giant steps might lead to the palace. However, there is the prevalence of eight mountain peaks in Ashtapad. But, still there lie many facts related to this name too. Amongst all the destinations falling in between the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, the Ashtapad is concluded to be the most beautiful one accompanied with abundant natural beauty along with some of the very unique elements present here. This peak is known to be tucked in South West China’s Sichuan Province lying quite near to the Tibetan border. There stands a dire need to seek permission from the local Lamas for anyone striving to visit the Ashtapad Mountain. According to some of the documents and publications, it has been notified that the experiments and the research with an intention of deriving the Ashtapad’s exact location is still under progress and no definite results have been pointed out so far.

The first Tirthankara i.e. Rishabhanatha is the most important figure in Jainism and is also known to be the one who has existed for millions of years ago. Also called as Ādinātha carrying the meaning as ‘Adi- First’ and ‘Natha- Lord’, Adishvara, Yugadideva, Prathamaraja as well as Nabheya, he has already attracted millions of Jains for the most devotional worship. According to the different sub-traditions of Jain, Rishabhanatha is known to be the ultimate founder of Jainism and has lived for more than approximately 8,400,000 purva years and had a height of 1,200 feet and such descriptions which are recognized as those belonging to the Non-humans were seen prominent in the next 21 Tirthankaras present in the Jain texts. He perceived Nirvana in Ashtapad and this makes the hub ardently followed by the people belonging to Jainism and that too beyond limits. Ashtapad is continually visited by thousands of pilgrims each year with the sole intention of attaining the salvation and filling their soul with purity as well as serenity.