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## Introduction
The Jain ascetics (Jinkalpi) continuously wandered, while the stationary ascetics (Sthavirakalpi) progressed towards complete renunciation of food and other necessities. When the Jinkalpi felt that wandering was no longer possible, they would accept Sanlekhana (voluntary death by fasting) after renouncing food and other necessities. This fact is confirmed by the current Sanlekhana practices of the Svetambara and Digambara traditions.
According to the Digambara tradition, when a monk becomes unable to wander, even to the point where begging for food is no longer possible, he accepts Sanlekhana. This is because in this tradition, there is no practice of accepting food brought by others. In contrast, according to the Svetambara tradition, monks become stationary in old age and gradually reduce their intake of food and other necessities, eventually accepting Sanlekhana. However, it is important to note that not all monks reduce their intake of food and other necessities after becoming stationary.
The different Sanlekhana practices described for Sthavirakalpi and Jinkalpi in the Nandi Churna seem appropriate considering the practices of these two types of ascetics. Even today, Digambara monks follow the Jinkalpi practice in some form, while Svetambara monks are closer to the Sthavirakalpi practice. It is a separate matter that the practice of Sanlekhana after twelve years is no longer prevalent, but this practice is mentioned in the Bhagavati Aradhana, a text accepted by the Digambara tradition. The Yapaniya tradition even allows for the acceptance of food brought by others in exceptional circumstances. The Bhagavati Aradhana explicitly mentions that four monks should bring food and other necessities for the monk performing Sanlekhana, and four other monks should protect that food and other necessities. Thus, both Sthavirakalpi and Jinkalpi practices are mentioned in the Yapaniya tradition.
## Significance of the Name
This work is called Mahapratyakhyana. In scattered texts, both Mahapratyakhyana and Aturpratyakhyana are mentioned as texts on Samadhi-marana (death by meditation).
1. Bhagavati Aradhana, verse 254.
2. Ibid., verses 661-663.