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[154]
[Antakrid Dasha]
There are 196 Dattis in total. Thus, according to the Sutra, Sukrushna Arya came to Arya Chandana Arya after worshipping this image and, after bowing and saluting her, spoke as follows: "O Arya! If you permit, I will accept the 'Ashta-Ashtamika' Bhikku-Pratima Tapa."
Arya Chandana said, "O Devanupriya! Do as you please. Do not be negligent in your religious duties."
**Discussion:** This Sapta-Saptamika Bhikku-Pratima is different from the Bhikku-Pratima mentioned in the 19th Sutra of the third category. It has no connection with it. The duration of the seventh Bhikku-Pratima is one month, and in it, seven Dattis of food and seven Dattis of water are taken. However, the Sapta-Saptamika Bhikku-Pratima described in the present study has a duration of 49 days and nights. It is completed in seven weeks (7 x 7 = 49). In the first week, one Datti of food and one Datti of water are taken, in the second, two each, in the third, three each, and so on, increasing by one each in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, until seven Dattis of food and water are taken in the seventh. The total number of Dattis in this Sapta-Saptamika Bhikku-Pratima is 196. Therefore, this Bhikku-Pratima has no connection with the aforementioned twelve Bhikku-Pratimas. Its establishment mechanism is as follows:
1
2
3
Satta-Saptamika Bhikku Padima
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
49 Days 196 Dattis
9 - Then, Sukrushna Arya, having accepted the Ashta-Ashtamika Bhikku-Pratima, dwells in the presence of Arya Chandana Arya.
In the first Ashta, she takes one Datti of food and one Datti of water, in the second, two each, and so on, until in the eighth Ashta, she takes eight Dattis of food and eight Dattis of water.