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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
'Bhattapaccakkhāṇa':
Before undertaking this mode of death (Bhaktapratyākhyāna), the guru instructed the candidate on the 'pañcanamaskära' (salutation to the five great personalities: Arihanta, Siddha, Ayariya, Uvajjhaya and all Sāhus). He tried to imbibe on his mind the importance of the five great vows (pañcamahāvratas), equanimity, controlling of passions (kaṣāya), the ghastly nature of remunerative hankering (nidāṇa), and thus prepared him. to face bravely all bodily pangs due to the giving up of food and drink.574
Santhara :
The 'santhara' or the bed consisted of either a slab of stone, or grass or a piece of pure ground. The monk begged pardon of all before lying upon the bed. The head was either to the north or to the east.575
The Gaṇividya578 prescribes Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday as proper days, 'bambha, valaya, vaya and risaha' as auspicious muhurtas and pusya, hasta, abhijit, aśvini and bharani as the proper nakṣatras for entering upon 'päövagamaṇa'.
Niryuktis:
All the seventeen types of deaths are to be found in the Niryuktis. The Uttaradhyayananiryukti577 gives the list of these at one place: They are:
death.
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(1) avici, (2) ohi, (3) antiya, (4) valāyamarana, (5) vasaṭṭamarana, (6) antasalla, (7) tabbhāva, (8) bala, (9) pandiya, (10) misa, (11) chaümatthamaraṇa, (12) kevali, (13) vehāṇasa, (14) giddhapiṭṭha, (15) bhattaparinna, (16) ingini, (17) päövagamana.
Out of these only the last three are described to be proper modes of
Like the Prakirņakas, the Uttaradhyayananiryukti refers to various persons who died a noble death not caring for physical pangs. Cases of lying upon a hot slab of stone, undergoing the pangs of thirst (as in the case of Dhanasamma), accepting death calmly while one's body was being eaten up by mosquitoes (like Samaņubhadda of Campā), and dying in caves (as the
574. Bhaktap. vs. 53-172: Examples of the horrible consequences of breaking the fast unto death are also depicted.
575. Marana-Samadhi, v. 346-49; Samstärake-p. 1-32, 34-43, 53, 89-93.
576. Vs. 21, 49, 55.
Jain Education International
577. Vs. 212-34; The last three are referred to in the Acäränga-N. 280; samahimarana: 281; vāghaïyam maranam: 284; samlehanä: 287-89; pāyavagamana: 290-92; Bhattaparinnä in Ogha-N. 807.
BULL, DCRI.-41
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