________________
366
12. Skandaka He had been inducted from the order of parivrajaka monks into the monastic order of Mahavira. It is extremely noteworthy that, a highly accomplished mar as he was, he not only changed over to another order, but soon gained for himself a noteworthy position in the new order of his adaptation. We have it in the Agamas that monk Skandaka walked carefully, stopped carefully, sat carefully, slept carefully, ate carefully and spoke carefully. He practised restraint towards one-organ beings, two-to-five-organ beings, flora-bodies and static beings. Skandaka had courted the five precautions, was restrained in mind, in words and in body, was devoid of desires and of restlessness and was rooted in restraint. Skandaka mastered the 11 Angas under the guidance of the senior monks, and with the permission of Bhagavan Mahavira, performed a prolonged penance named guna -ratna -samvat - As a result of this severe penance, his body which was beautiful, well-proportioned and pleasant became rough, dry and emaciated. All his flesh was gone, and he was reduced to a mere skeleton with a cover of skin on it. When he moved, his bones rattled like a moving cart loaded with dry leaves or with charcoal. But he shone all the time due to brilliances acquired through severest penances (28).
sara.
What to speak of talking, Skandaka felt weak even when he desired to talk. Considering the state of his body, one day, he came to Bhagavan Mahavira and sought his permission for a fast unto death. Having obtained the necessary permission, and duly attended by fellow monks, he proceeded to Mount Vipula where he courted the fast as per rules. After fulfilling the fast for a month, he passed away to be born as a god in a heaven named Acyutakalpa. Among the monks around Bhagavan Mahavira, he held a very important position.
Among the nuns in Mahavira's order, Candanavala was indeed the leadingmost; but others deserving mention were Mrgavati, Devananda, Jayanti, Sudarsana and others.
Such is the briefs account of the monks and nuns who lived with and around the respective leaders of the two order, Mahavira and Buddha.
