________________
562
S. B. DEO Ś. 411 refers to Jinanandin "who was the touchstone by which to test the value of penances that were hard to be performed”. 422 Another epigraph of c. 650 A.D., gives an epithet 'upavāsapara' (devoted to fasting) to Vrşabhanandin.123
Besides mentioning the traditional twelve kinds of penances424 as given in literary sources, an epigraph of c. 700 A.D. refers to the case of a sage who did severe penance for several years, "which was as difficult as walking on the sharp edge of a sword or passing over the great fangs of a cobra”.425
Fasting for the duration of three, eight, twenty-one and thirty days is referred to in epigraphs mainly belonging to a period between the sixth 426 and the 19th centuries A.D.427
Besides these, peculiar practices like the vow of silence,428 sitting in a 'kukkuţāsana' posture, 429 and doing eight days' fast facing each direction 430
(which resembled one of the Bhikkhu Padimās), are also referred to. No wonder, therefore, if the epigraphs refer to Mallisena as one "who practised penance surpassing fire (in heat)”.431 Such penance was sufficient enough to inspire admiration even in the mind of the Muslim rulers as the title 'mahātapā' given to Vijayadeva by Jahangir, shows.432
We have already referred elsewhere to the case of fasting unto death as late as in 1945 A.D. Even at present we have cases of Jaina monks observing 'sallekhanā' and thus facing death by voluntary fasting. 433
SUPERNATURAL POWERS:
The epigraphical sources refer to the marvellous feats of supernatural power by the Jaina monks at various places. We have seen, when dealing
422. FLEET, I.A., VII, p. 209. 423. E.C., II, 75. 424. Ibid., 23 of c. 700 A.D.; 67 of 1129 A.D. 425. Ibid., 22. 426. Fasting for 3 days - E.C., II, 59 of 974 A.D.
8 days -.A., IV, p. 176: date S. 970; E.C., IV, Nāg. 19, c. 1118 A.D. 21 days-Ibid., II, 33, of c. 700 A.D. 15 days - Ibid., IV, Nāg. 67 of c. 1060 A.D.
30 days - Ibid., IV, 25, 143, 167 (c. 700-1809 A.D.). 427. Ibid., II, 167. 428. Ibid., 35, of c. 800 A.D. 429. Ibid., IV, Krishna., 3. 430. Ibid., II, 69, of c. 1100 A.D. 431. Ibid., 67 of 1129 A.D. 432. NAHAR, I, 754 of V.S. 1677; 772 of 1700.
433. The most recent example is that of Shri Sāntisågara Mahārāj, a Digambara patriarch, who courted death by Sallekhana in September 1955.
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