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

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44
Sallekhanā in Practice
of the name is worn out ) kept the vow and expired. 86 Another inscription at the same place simply states that Mahendrakīrti Siddhanta-bhatāra expired. 87 There is one more incomplete inscription. It states that Pesavi-kanti was a female disciple of Devasena-siddānta-bhatāra of Nallur. (She observed the vow) for 70 ( days) and expired. No dates are mentioned against any of them. 88
In Channapatna Taluka (Dt. Mandya ) there is an ins. cription of A. D. 1200 which records that one Dore who was very ill took the vow of Samnyásana and obtained the better world by standing penance. 8 9
In Gubbi Taluka, at a village by name Nittür (Dt. Tumkur) there is the temple of Ādīśvara. On a stone in the Northern wall of this temple, there is a record ( 1200 A. D.) of the death of Maliyakka who was the lay disciple of Balacandrapandita-deva who was the disciple of Abhayacandra-saidhāntika-cakravarti of the Kundakundānvaya line. She has great faith in the Jaina religion and observed the vows. She died by samnyāsana. Her daughter-in-law Caudiyakka seems to have died at about that time. So
There is another instance of a woman by name Mallagaundi who obtained salvation by observing the vow. She was a woman of pious character and breathed her last when she was in deep meditation of Lord Jina (Jina-smaranadindam gata jivite). Her Guru was Sakalacandra Muni who was very well-read in the Jaina scriptures and was a well-wisher of all his followers. The event is recorded as having taken place on the 21st day of Vīradeva Ballāļa year Prajāpati Samvatsara, on Sunday the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Märgaśīrșa ( about 1211 A. D. ).91
It is unfortunate that the name of the person who obseryed the vow of Sallekhanā cannot be deciphered as part of 86. Ibid., Vol. V, Ins. 28.
87. Ibid., Vol. V, Ins. 25. 88. Ibid., Vol. V, Ins. 24.
89. Ibid., Vol. XII, Ins. 154. 90. lbid., Vol. XII, Ins. 5.
91. Ibid., Vol. VII, Ins. 97.