Jain devotees will now get a chance to know and learn about one of the five major Tirths in Jainism, 'Ashtapad Maha Tirth' which is believed to have been lost.
Also, the Maha Tirth is situated in the snow-clad Himalayas. The book, 'Ashtapad Maha Tirth', seems to be well-researched book.
The book's author Dr Rajnikant Shah has aimed at creating a much larger Tirth in India. Dr Shah was born in 1935 in India and moved from Jaipur to Mumbai to study medicine.
There are many stories related to Ashtapad Maha Tirth like Kumar and Sagar's sons, Tapas Kher Parna, Ravan and Mandodri Bhakti, among many others.
But as per Jain scriptures, the first Tirthankar, Bhagwan Rushabhdev, had attained nirvana on the Ashtapad Mountain. The son of Bhagwan Rushabhdev, Chakravati Bharat, had built a palace adorned with gems on the Ashtapad Mountain located in the serene Himalayas.
Several written materials and articles were collected on Ashtapad from scriptures and compiled in different volumes.
The book which is a compilation of the material gathered talks about the life of Arhat Rishabh, who breathed his last and attained parinirvana, when the moon was in conjunction with the constellation Abhijit. Arhat Rishabh lived the life of a prince for two million years and ruled as a king for six million and three hundred thousand years.
He thus lived as a householder for a total of eight million and three hundred thousand years.
The book also talks about the time of Lord Adinath, ancient Jain Tirth, India's Digambar Jain Tirth, Jainism in Central Asia where Jain religion literature is mentioned.
The location of Ashtapad is still being searched as to where in the Himalayas it is situated.
The book also has stories of Bharat Chakravati, Ravan and Mandodri, Mahamani Chintamani, and a lot more.
