________________
SECTION VIII
SALLEKHANĀ BY ĀCĀRYA SANTISĀGAR
( An Illustrious Illustration)
What I have stated in the previous chapter that Sallekhanā is not Suicide can be explained and most satisfactorily illustrated from the life of Acārya Śāntisagar, the greatest Jaina saint of modern India who quitted his body on 18th Sept., 1955 in the morning at 6.50 A. M. at the holy place of Kunthalagiri. (Dist. Osmanabad) in the state of Mahārāştra after observing the vow since 18th August 1955.
The name of Acārya Śrī śāntisāgar Mupi Maharaja is familiar to every Jaina family perhaps in the whole of India. He was born in 1873 at a village called Yaļaguda near Bhoj in the Chikkodi Taluka of Belgaum District in the State of Karnataka. His original name was Sātagauda. Sow. Satyavati is the name of his mother while Śrī Bhīmanagaudā Patil is the name of his father. Satagauda was tall and well-built. His parents were devout Jainas who were pious and religiousminded observing the vows of the householders. His father had taken a vow to take only one meal a day about 16 years prior to his death. Satagauda's formal education did not extend beyond the third standard of the Kannada primary school but the religious atmosphere in the house was sufficiently strong to mould his character and outlook.
When Satagaudā was nine years old, his marriage was celebrated against his wishes with a girl who expired after six months. He never married thereafter and became a life-long celibate. By nature he was cool-headed, modest, compassionate and truthful. He never showed any genuine interest in agriculture and cloth-business which were the family-occupations. When he was 17 or 18 years old, he started reading Atmānu.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
