According to the descriptions found in the scriptures of “Shri Shatrunjaya Mahatmy” and others, when Rishabhdev Bhagwan had completed his renunciation period, he had visited the “Ashtapad” mountain with 1000 hermits. There, after fasting for 6 days (padopgaman anshan), he attained “Nirvana” on the day of Magha Vadi Teres. “Chakravarti King Bharata” (his eldest son), had constructed a glorious temple palace named "Sinhanishadha" at the site of the funeral pyre of Bhagwan Rishabhdev. This temple palace was built with precious gems and stones (like the “Vardhaki” gems). This "Sinhanishadha" was about 5.7 miles or aroud 9.225 kms (~30250 feet) high, and about 7.4 miles (~ 12 kms) wide, giving an impression of being an altar of the “Temple of Salvation or Enlightenment”. On all 4 sides of the temple palace, 4 large and beautiful gates had been erected using rhinestone and other crystal gems, depicting the convergence or the divine preaching hall (“Samvasaran”) of Bhagwan Rishabhdev. A beautiful golden temple porch (“Mandap”) was constructed, which also had the pedestals, platforms and canonical seats for gods or holy books. On the pedestals, 4 idols of “Arihant” god made of precious jewels and gemstones had been placed on the lotus seats, along with their 8 “pratiharas”. Additionally life- like, gem studded statues of 24 Jain Tirthankaras were also placed. Besides, each idol had been decorated with 3 chandeliers (Chattar), 2 air-filters (Chamar) on each side, praying demigods, centaurs, along with the sacred flags. In this temple palace, King Bharat also erected numerous statues depicting his fore-fathers, brothers, sisters along with a statue of himself as a humble praying devotee. Several trees like “Chaitra” and “Kalpa” along with several lakes, waterfalls, wells and monasteries were constructed all around the temple palace. Further on the outer side of this temple palace, an elevated, gem- studded, dome like structure (“The Stupa”) for Bhagwan Rishabhdev and additional domes for the king’s brothers were constructed, with an impregnable image of the “Man of Steel” and divine God (Adhishtayak Dev) were seated/installed.
In this first temple of the world, King Bharata devoutly enshrined and worshiped idols of Bhagwan Rishabhdev and the other 23 Jain Tirthankaras. He achieved eternal happiness by worshiping, serving and offering prayers here.
In order to save this jewel-studded temple palace from cruel activities of creatures and disturbances or mala fide interventions by humans, King Bharat divided this mountain into eight parts and placed them at a distance of about 12 kms (1 yojan) each, by his weapon of punishment (“Dandaratna”). As a result of this action, the world’s first shrine (temple palace) came to be known as the famous "Ashtapad". King Bharata too attained enlightenment by contemplating the impermanence of the world and finally attained his “Nirvana” on the Ashtapad. Centuries later, 60000 sons of “Chakravarti” King Sagar also sacrificed their lives protecting this shrine. King Ravana (of Lanka) attained the boon of becoming a tirthankar in future life, while playing the Indian stringed instrument or the “Veena” here.
After listening to the inexplicable glory of this temple palace or “The Ashtapad” in the divine words from 24th Jain Tirthankara Shri Mahavir Swami Bhagwan, Guru Gautama Swami visited the Ashtapad shrine, by climbing it after holding the rays of Sun and composed the holy “Shri Jagachintamani Chaitavandan” discourse. On this Ashtapad Tirth, Guru Gautam Swami articulated the enigmatic glory of this place to 1503 hermits and sages, who were on a pilgrimage to this Tirth.
Centuries later, over time, this all became extinct.
The majestic structure of the most revered and sacred Jain heritage, “Shri Ashtapad Tirth”, as mentioned in the Jain scriptures has taken shape on the blessed land of Shri Hastinapur.
In order to revive and embody the inexplicable glory of the extinct “Ashtapad”, Acharya Bhagwant Shrimad Vijay Indradinn Surishwar Ji Maharaj, inspired the managing committee of Hastinapur Tirth, to newly construct the “Ashtapad” on this historic, holy and pious land of Hastinapur. Shri Vinodbhai N. Dalal (Chairman - Construction Committee), Shri J.S. Jhaveri (President), Shri Nirmal Kumar Jain (General Secretary) and all the management committee members resolved to undertake this important task.
The entire design was prepared by Sh. Amrit Lal Mulshankar Trivedi and Sh. Chandubhai Trivedi (Ahmedabad), the chief craftsmen of the famous Jain Shwetambar Pedhi, “Seth Shri Anand Ji Kalyan Ji” of Ahmedabad.
After preparing the complete map of the Ashtapad scheme, Sh. Vinodbhai N. Dalal, (Chairman of the Construction Committee), Sh. Nirmal Kumar Jain (General Secretary) and Sh. Tejpal Singh (manager), extensively travelled all over India for three years, met and sought blessings (in form of Vasakshep) from all Shwetamber Jain Acharyas (spiritual leaders) and received written messages and eloquences from them. All of these messages and writings have been published the in the form of a book, to preserve them for eternity.
The Land worship (Bhumi Pujan) ceremony was conducted on 31.1.1996, under the auspices of the most respected divine guru, Acharya Srimad Vijay Nityanand Surishwar ji Maharaj of Sri Atma-Vallabh-Samudra sect. The ceremony was fulfilled with immense pomp and show, by one of the greatest devotees and donors of Jain Samaj, Lala Sh Khairti Lal Jain (owner: Enkay Rubber India, Cosco India Ltd), Delhi. The foundation stone laying ceremony was then conducted on 22.04.1996 under the auspices of the most respected divine gurus, Acharya Srimad Vijay Janakchandra Sureshwar ji Maharaj and Acharya Srimad Vijay Nityanand Sureshwar ji Maharaj of Sri Atma-Vallabh-Samudra sect. At the time of the foundation stone laying of Ashtapad, all the blessings (in the form of Vasakshep) received from various Jain Acharyas’, were put in the foundation, by the grace of which, the construction work of the whole temple was completed smoothly.
A structure which is 160 feet in diameter and 108 feet high, an eight storeyed “Ashtapad” mountain has been constructed here, which is regarded as a marvel of architecture brilliance. A grand beautiful temple has been built on top of the mountain in accordance with Jain scriptures and craftsmanship. The total height of the structure, along with its temple and the sacred flag (dhwaja) is 151 feet. On all the 4 directions of this temple, idols of Jain Tirthankaras have been placed in the formation of 2-4-8-10, i.e. all 24 Jain Tirthankaras have been represented here. The entire temple is built with pure white marble, which makes it very unique in the world, in terms of its craftsmanship.
In the lower part of the temple, Four idols (chaumukhi) of Bhagwan Rishabhdev in convergence or a divine preaching hall (Samavasaran) have been established in all 4 directions. The entire family of Rishabhdev Bhagwan has been depicted in the form of idols in the divine preaching hall. This includes the idols of his parents, 2 wives, 2 daughters and 100 sons (including Chakravarti King Bharat). On the outer periphery of the mountain, 501 idols each, have been installed on the 2nd , 3rd and 4th storeys respectively. Hence, a total of 1503 idols of sages (tapas) have been placed on the mountain.
This magnificent temple was constructed with the tireless efforts of Shri Vinodbhai N. Dalal (Chairman of Construction Committee), in collaboration with Shri Nirmal Kumar Jain (General Secretary) and other trustees. In addition, revered assistance was received from various leading institutions and donors from Jain samaj: Seth Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi - Shri Srenik Bhai Kasturbhai (Ahmedabad), Seth Jeevan Das Godidas Shankheshwar Parshwanath Derasar Trust - Seth Shri Arvind Bhai Pannalal (Ahmedabad), Seth Dharmachand Dayachand Jain Shwetambar Murti Puja Sangh Sadri (Ranakpur), Sanghvi Shri Rugnathmalji Samarathmalji Bhanwarlalji, Dinesh Kumar Ji Doshi Family (Delhi), Shri Deepchand Bhai S. Gardi (Mumbai), Shri Narpatrai Khairaitalal Jain (Delhi), Shri Bhogilal Leharchand (Mumbai), Shri Shantichand Balubhai Jhaveri (Mumbai), Shri J S Jhaveri (Delhi), Shri Sayarchand ji Nahar (Chennai), Shri Sambhavnath Jain Derasar Pedhi Borivali (Mumbai), Shri Godi Parshwanath Ji Temple Trust (Pune), Shri Mandar Jain Sangh (Delhi), Shri Dhanraj ji Raja Ji Chauhan Family (Delhi), Mrs. Chandravati Baloo Bhai Khimchand Religious Trust, Malad (Mumbai), Babu Amichand Pannalal, Adishwar Jain Temple Trusts, Malabar Hill (Mumbai) etc.
The Ashtapd temple was enshrined on the auspicious day of “Margashirsha Sudi Purnima”, dated 02.12.2009 (Wednesday) with full festivities and vast volume of jain followers, under the auspices of the most respected divine gurus of Sri Atma-Vallabh-Samudra-Indradinn sect - Acharya Srimad Vijay Nityanand Surishwar ji Maharaj, Acharya Srimad Vijay Virendra Suri ji Maharaj, Acharya Vijay Vasant Suri ji Maharaj, Acharya Vijay Jayanand Suri ji Maharaj, and other sages.
