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566
S. B. DEO of gods”. To describe that meditation : "keeping in mind the true nature of the soul consisting of infinite knowledge, and renouncing what is fit to be abandoned, the sage Meghanandin ... went to the heaven". 462
(v) Two Belur inscriptions of the thirteenth century A.D., refer to "entombment" (samādhi) of monks after death. Bālacandra in 1274 A.D. is said to have "suffered perfect entombment". 463 Of Abhayacandra it is said that he gave up all food "knowing it was his time for the tomb”. It may mean, therefore, that their remains were buried or that the term simply referred to death. In this connection, the comment of JAYASWAL on the word ‘nisidi' in the Khāravela inscription, quoted elsewhere, need not be repeated.
MORAL DISCIPLINE :
The epigraphs give instances of good conduct as well as of moral degradation among monks of both the sects.
For instance, there are references to various ascetics who were desig. nated "emperor of good conduct”.464 Remarkable feats of supreme self-control are referred to in the case of Aryadeva and Rāmacandra Maladhāri Deva. In the case of the former "it is reported that, when a straw was placed on his ear by some people who wanted to test his self-restraint, though his attention was absent by sleep at the hour appointed for sleeping, he slowly wiped the ear with peacock's tail, and, making way for that (imaginary) insect by gently turning round, lay down (again)”.465 In the case of the latter, it is told that he "did not swing his arm while walking, ... did not go to the length of a yoke without looking well before him; gold and women he never touched”.466 Of Maladhārin it is said that "the dirt on Maladhāri Deva's body, which was overgrown with an anthill, looked as if it were a close-fitting armour of black iron that had not yet been doffed. He never once uttered even in forgetfulness a word about worldly affairs; he never opened the closed door; he never set out after sunset; he never once stretched the body; he was never wearied of the posture known as Kukkuțāsana'; he never forgot to abstain from injuring others".467
This high standard of moral discipline, self-control and celibacy seems to have decayed in later times among both the Digambaras and the Śvetām
462. Ibid., 127, of 1115 A.D.; V, Belur, 133. of 1279 A.D. 463. Ibid., and 131 and 134. 464. Ibid., 64 of 1163 A.D.; 66 of 1176 A.D. 465. Ibid., 67 of 1129 A.D. 466. Ibid., V, Belur, 134 of 1300 A.D.
467. Ibid., II, 117 of 1123 A.D.; for similar references to the dirt on his body, Ibid., 65 of 1176 A.D., and 67 of 1129 A.D.
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