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22
Sallekhana in Practice
The inscription is in the form of reverential salutation to Nāgasena Guru who expired after keeping the vow in accordance with the procedure (samnyāsanavidhi). He was the disciple of Rśabhasena Guru. Nāgasena is described as one who had conquered the world of his enemies, worshipped by kings, given up his fortune and conquered his desires and pride. In other words, he had achieved victory over all his passions and desires. He was pious and serene so as to evoke all reverence. 16
We find the description of a beautiful area near a hill surpassing in beauty the nandanavana (heavenly garden of Indra ). Baladeva Muni was the son (i. c., disciple ) of Kanaka Sena, the most virtuous. He was preaching all to praise the Lord, to show an ocean of goodness to creatures and to practise virtue. He had himself forsaken everything and given himself up to devotion. He was practising penance on the summit of the mountain and departed to the Siddhaloka ( siddhalokam gataḥ )\"
Säntisena Muni observed complete fast ( for days ) on the top of a mountain and attained ‘salvation' (the state of not being born again ). There is reference to Bhadrabāhu and Candragupta as the twin munis ( munīndra-yugma) and to their religion as the true faith. The said śāntisena Munīša followed the religion of the twin saints. We can safely infer from these details that by the time of this incident, Candra. gupta himself had become a monk like Bhadrabāhu whom he had followed after giving up his kingdom. It is consistent with the tradition that a Muni, Candragupta adopted the vow of Sallekhanā and attained salvation. The date of the inscription may be about 650 A. D. 18
The account about Singanandi having adopted the vow of Sallekhana and expired is given in one line. There are no significant details. 1 9
16. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 14 ( 34). 17. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 15 (2). 18. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 17 (18). 19. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 19 ( 32 ).
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