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Sallekhanā by Ācārya Sāntisāgar
this modern age of science and technology, who raised the status of Jaina Munis to unequalled heights of veneration and admiration for their life of austerity, purity of character, compassion towards all living beings and spiritual progress in the direction of self-realization.
There are numerous instances known to me of his long fasts, impressive exposition of the Jaina principles, miraculous events like the cobras and wild animals appearing and disappearing without causing the slightest disturbance, the new enlightenment which many men and women of all castes received at his feet and of the remarkable impression that he created on those who met him. It is not my purpose to write his biography but only to highlight the uniqueness of his mind and character as an undisputed monarch amongst the saints of the century. Many significant details of his life can be found in the Commemoration Volume (“Smriti-Grantha") published by Mr. Valchand Devachand Shah, the Secretary of Sri Acārya Santisāgar Jinavāni Jīrņoddhāra Samsthā, Phaltan in Mahārāștra."
Coming to the relevant event of his life, Śrī Acāryaji was camping at Bārāmati (Dist. Poona) in April 1955 when I had the last memorable privilege of having his darśana. He was then suffering from defective eye-sight. Sometime in June, he started to go to Kunthalagiri. When the devotees pressed him to stay on due to his weak eye-sight, he told them mildly that they should allow him to have his own of life. He left Bārāmati and reached Kunthalagiri.
It is necessary here to refer to his mental condition before he adopted the vow. There used to be discussions on interesting religious topics. On 20.6.1955, he explained how man can have self-realization. He said : Man must ever be exerting towards betterment of his life. He must believe that his own self has all the powers of Bhagavān. One must practise self-control and study how he could acquire concen
1. Smrti Grantha on Sri 108 Acārya Caritra Cakravarti Santisägar, published by Shri Valchand Devachand Shah.
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