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 59

48
Sallekhanā in Practice
in logic and in expounding the principles of Anuprekṣā by illustrations and proof.
The village Bastihalli in which are found the three temple of Adinātha, śāntinātha and Pārsvanatha was part of Dora. samudra. There are important inscriptions in these temples. Dr. Saletore says, “ The Jaina citizens of Dorasamudra witnessed a remarkable spectable in A. D. 1274. Bālacandra Panditadeva of the Desīya Gana, .. was a learned and austere guru .. Having performed all the rites of saņi yasana he suffered perfect entombment .. Five years later (A. D. 1279 ) another great Jaina gnru died amidst equally orthodox circumstances. This was Abhayacandra Siddhāntadeva.. who was the Śruta guru of Bālacandra Panditadeva. . And twenty years after his death, the pious Jaina citizens of Dorasamudra once again lost an equally remarkable Jaina teacher. He was Ramacandra Maladhari-deva, the senior disciple of Balachandra Panditadeva "
The first epitaph in the Santinātha temple at Bastihalli records the Sallekhanā of Abhayacandra-siddhanta-cakravarti who was the disciple of Samudāyada- Māghanandi-bhattāraka. He was well-versed in prosody, logic, vocabulary, grammar, philosophy and rhetoric and refuted the false doctrines. On the 9th day of the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa of Saka year 1202 ( 1279 A. D.) he felt that he was nearing his death. He fore. sook all food without fear and adopted the vow. He reached the abode of gods. The citizens of Dorasamudra raised a high monument for him. 5
The second epitaph in the same temple records the death of Rāmacandra Maladhāri-deva who was the senior disciple of Balacandra-pandita-deva. On the afternoon of Thursday, 3rd day of the dark half of the month of Caitra, Sarvari Samvatsara, Saka year 1222 ( 1300 A, D.), he informed all the people of the four castes that he would adopt samnyāsana. He performed all rites of samnyāsana, meditated on the 3. Ibid., Vol. V, Ins. 132.
4. Medieval Jainism, pp. 209-213. 5. Epigraphia Carnāțicā, Vol. V, Ins. 133.