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420
S. B. DEO
Such remarks reveal a gradual decrease in the practice of harder types of penances though the commentaries, cūrņis and later works refer to the fundamentals of the internal and the external penances.
Inspite of this, however, we come across stray instances of long term fasts undertaken by different persons.215
In this respect, it may be noted that fasts unto death (samlehaņā), 'pāövagamana' and 'bhattaparinnā'216 are also referred to in post-canonical works and commentaries. As late as in 1945 a Jaina nun in Poona made a fast of 42 days which ended in her death.217 In the rainy season, the monks still make short term fasts constantly during the four months.
Supernatural Powers:
As compared with the texts of the canon, the books which are of a commentarial nature as well as full of stories of legendary and romantic type refer to a number of magical practices resorted to by monks in general.
Especially the Țikās and the Cūrnis are full of such material. In this connection it may be noted that Siddhasena ācārya had gone to the extent of building magic houses according to the rules given in a book called Jonipāhuda.218 The monks were allowed to make use of spells like 'thambhani' and 'mohani'219 if they were attacked by thieves. So also in order to know the person who had stolen something, a spell called the 'ābhogini' was uttered.220 In cases of snake bite the monks used a charmed piece of cloth which when rubbed to the patient made him normal.221 A story is told of Padaliptā who created a magical figure of a princess.222 'Kāyotsarga' also was effective in certain cases to ward off the trouble from forest deities to the monks.223 The practice of applying charmed ash to the body to save oneself from the thieves is also referred to.224 The power to fly up in the air seems to have
215. Brh. kalp. bhā. Vol. II, 1283-84; Vol. V, 4992.
216. Jinaprabha's Tirthakalpa (c. 14th cent. A.D.) mentions two Jain ascetics 'who performed austerities for one, two and three months by (partaking of every) sixth, eighth, tenth or twelfth (meal) or by fasting for half a month.'-BÜHLER, I.A. Vol. XXVII, p. 70.
217. She belonged to the Sthānakvāsins. Her name was Rambhākuvarji Mahārāj. (Information given by Shri J. H. OSWAL, Poona).
218. See also Nis-C. 4, p. 375; Bph-kalp.bha. Vol. III, 2681. 219. Ibid., Vol. IV, 4809. 220. Ibid. 4633. 221. Ibid. 3907. 222. Ibid. Vol, V, 4915. 223. Ibid. Vol. II, 3108. 224. Nis-C. 13, p. 850.
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