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 67

Sallekhanā in Practice
for his goodness and generosity.38 The 20th stone also refers to the reign of Deva Rāya Vodeyaru and records the death of Bhairava Gauda by repeating the pañcanamaskara in Saka year 1343 (1421 A. D.) Asvīna Bahuļa.34 The verses that praise Bhairava Gauda are mostly erased. The next one simply records the death of Rami-Gaudi, in 1396 A. D., the lay disciple of Madhavacandra-Maladhāri. She was the wife of Rāma Gauņa of Hire Avaliya. 3 5
The poet Manga Rāja composed the inscription located in the Siddhara Basti to the Southern side. It is difficult to say whether this Manga Rāja is the second or the third of the poets of that name in Kannada. The epitaph begins by praising the Tīrthankaras and the other Acāryas. It describes Pūjyapāda Muni as unrivalled in the science of medicine and is addressed as Jinendra Buddhi since he had acquired all knowledge. It refers to the four sanghas of the Munis : Deva, Nandi, Simha and Sena. Then it mentions some of the famous munis that belonged to the different Sanghas. śruta-muni whose death is recorded here was the disciple of Siddhanta Yogi. He was worthy of his Guru in wisdom, virtues, character and learning. When Sruta-muni felt that his end was near, as he took ill while he was expounding the philosophy of Jinendra, he took the vow saying that the body was perishable and went into meditation. He kept repeating the namokära mantra, concentrated on his own soul and peacefully quitted his body (Srutamunir ayam arigam svam vihaya praśāntaḥ). The memorial was set up in the Saka year 1355, Paridhavi Samvatsara, 9th day of the bright half of the second Ăşādha ( 1432 A. D.).88
There is a brief inscription recording the death of Deva. rāya in the year named Kșaya, on Tuesday, the 14th day of the dark half of second Vaišākha. This refers to Deva Rāya II (A. D. 1419 - A. D. 1446 ) of the Vijayanagar
33. Ibid., Vol. VIII, Ins. 117. 34. Ibid., Vol. VIII, Ins. 118.
35. Ibid., Vol. VIII, Ins. 119. 36. Ibid., Vol. VIII, Ins. 120.