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What is Sallekhanā ?
Such progress of a house-holder is conceived of as taking place through eleven stages. These stages are called pratimās. Commencing with the inculcation of the right attitude in conduct and religion, a house-holder has to adopt and practise different vows one after the other until he acquires a state of high ethical conduct and spiritual attainment as will easily fit him into a life of renunciation. They help the individual to develop self-control and self-restraint so that the observance of fasting, meditation and other austerities become a part of normal life. The pratimas take one, step by step to the stage of ascetic life.
As already observed, the vow of Sallekhanā can be adopted by a house-holder as well as by a monk or a nun, when they foresee that their end is near. There is a compehensive exposition of this vow, both as to its content and manner of observance in Ratnakaranda Śrävakacara by Samantabhadra who probably lived in the second century A. D. It is a work of rare merit by one who was called the propounder of the law of Jinas (pranetā jinaśäsanasya). He defined Sallekhanā as "a vow to be adopted for seeking liberation of the soul from the body as a religious duty during a calamity, severe famine, old age or illness from which there is no escape or against which there is no remedy. The all-seers ( sakala-darsinaḥ) praise samnyása-marana (i. e. sallekhánä) as the fruit of penance. Therefore everyone should seek his fortune in the samadhi-marana. He who adopts the vow should, with a pure mind, give up friendship, enmity, company and possessiveness; he should forgive his relatives, companions and servants and should, with sweet words, ask for pardon. He should discuss frankly with his Guru (Preceptor) all the sins committed by himself, or sins which he abetted others to commit, or consented to their commission by others, and abide by the great vow till death. During the period, he should wholly efface from his mind all grief, fear, regret, affection, hatred, prejudice etc., and with
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| SR No. | 001568 |
| Book Title | Sallekhana is Not Suicide |
| 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 |