Sallekhana is Not Suicide

SR No.: 001568
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T K Tukol
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 124
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 8 MB

Page 110

Sallekhana by Ācārya Sāntisāgar
śāsana and Samayasāra. He performed pilgrimages to the sacred places where the Tīrthańkaras had attained liberation, viz. Sammedashikhar, Pāvāpuri, Campāpuri etc. The desire to be initiated into asceticism became intense. His mother died in 1912 while his father had died a little earlier. Sātagauda visited holy places in the South including Śravaņa Belgola by about 1915. He was initiated as kshullaka in 1918 by Muni Devendrakīrti and as a naked monk in 1922 by the same Muni. He had already begun to observe the five maha-vratas and the other vows which a Muni is required to follow. He developed an attitude towards all objects and problems which was fully consistent with scriptures. His discourses used to be full of commonsense and his illustration to clarify the principles of philosophy used to be from the familiar field of ordinary life. The devotees were so supremely happy with his character and spiritual ways of life that they conferred on him the title of Caritra Cakravarti (Emperor of Character), though he was much disinclined towards such titles.
In 1944, Acārya Śrī śāntisagar spent his four months of the rainy season at Kunthalagiri. He came to know that the manuscripts of Dhavala, Jayadhavala, and Mahādhavalā which contain fundamentals of Jaina philosophy, inscribed on palm leaves were being eaten away by white-ants. He suggested to the devotees that they should be inscribed on copper plates in Devanagari scripts and preserved from further destruction for the benefit of posterity. Accordingly an Association was established and most of the important scriptures were carved on copper-plates as also printed on thick paper.
The Acāryaji carried the message of Jainism throughout the length and breadth of India and awakened thousands of Jainas and others spiritually inclined, to the path of purity and piety. He created a genuine thirst for religious study and under: standing amongst the masses. Dr. Radhakrishnan who was then the Vice President of India described him as “the very embodiment of India's soul.” There is no doubt that he shall ever be remembered as the true torch-bearer of Jainism in