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Seven day fast and parana, eight day fast and parana, nine day fast and parana, five day fast and parana, six day fast and parana. This is the second string.
Nine day fast and parana, five day fast and parana, six day fast and parana, seven day fast and parana, eight day fast and parana. This is the third string.
Six day fast and parana, seven day fast and parana, eight day fast and parana, nine day fast and parana, five day fast and parana. This is the fourth string.
Eight day fast and parana, nine day fast and parana, five day fast and parana, six day fast and parana, seven day fast and parana. This is the fifth string.
There is a complete sequence of all these five strings which lasts for 200 days. It contains 175 fasting days and 25 eating days.
In total there are four different sequences like this lasting for 800 days. This includes 700 fasting days and 100 eating days.
The rule about food is that during the first sequence food including some stimulating things (rigaya) is allowed; during the second sequence food without any stimulating things is allowed; during the third sequence food without any oil is allowe and during the fourth sequence ayambil-tap is observed on the eating days.
Following this procedure and observing prescribed rules and rituals, Bhadrottar pratima is concluded.
This pratima was practiced by Arya Ramakrishna.
Conclusion
Studying these 12 Bhikshu pratimas mentioned in Dashashrutuskandh and the seven mentioned in Antakriddasha Sutra and analyzing the detailed procedures it becomes evident that both these sets of pratimas are separate and they had no inter-relation.
An in-depth study of the pratimas detailed in these two scriptures also indicates that there must have been numerous other spiritual practices, special and normal. prevalent during the Agam-period. Many other pratimas must have been used by seekers for purity and consequent uplift.
But the ravages of time made most of these procedures or systems of spiritual practices extinct. It is not possible to come to a definite conclusion about them in absence of clear evidences. One has to be content with what is available.
Antakriddasha Mahima
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