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 44

Sallekhanā in Practice
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he who gave dīkņā to Śrīmati Ganti who was well-versed in meditation, very liberal in making gifts, the pride of the virtuous, greatly endowed with the qualities of compassion and forgiveness, spreading the light of modesty and happiness, having attained fame in the whole world, conquered all the passions by her penance. She took the vow of samā. dhi and concentrating her attention with full faith at the feet of Jina, the Lord of the world, in the practice of austere penance, departed to the abode of the gods. This was in the Śaka year 1041 (1119 A. D.) in Viļambi Samvatsara, on the fifth day of the bright half of Phalguņa. It was Wednesday. The memorial was erected by her disciple Manakabbe Ganți.81 “It is clear from the last words” says Prof. S. R. Sharma, " that the excellent Srimati Ganti was the guru of another Manakabbe Ganți; which clearly reveals the existence of a regular sisterhood of nuns ... Rice reasonably thought that there must have been a regular sisterhood of Digambara Jaina nuns in South India. The evidence in this behalf is quite convincing." 69 He also refers to another instance of Jakkiyabbe whose death by samnyāsana is referred to in an inscription in Coorg and observes : “ Thurston says, there is still a sisterhood of nuns in South Arcot who shave and wear white cloth. These might be Digambaras and he says that all Jains there are Digambaras.”
In those days, devotion to the religion of Jina appears to have been more common than now. There is an inscription in the manțapa to the right side of Yarada Katte Basti, referring to the death by Sallekhanā of Demiyakka or Demavati, the seniormost wife of Chamunda Shetty, a merchant who wielded considerable influences with the kings. She was most charitable and made four kinds of gifts most liberally giving food, shelter, medicine and learning. She was like the agent of Sasana Devatā to give protection to the supreme Jaina 61. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 139 ( 351 ). 62. Jainism and Karnātaka Culture, pp. 163-165. S-5