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Sallekhanā in Practice
Rāja. He was praised by all people as he attained the wealth of the heavenly abode of Indra, the god of gods. He was the abode of “fortune, victory, learning, generosity, valour, glory and greatness.” There are datailed descriptions about his celibacy and successful victory over the temptations of charming women. He appears to have been a staunch follower of the five vows, “never uttering a falsehood under any circumstance."41. He was great in courage, magnanimity and self-confidence. Dr. B. A Saletore has said : “ The last prominent name of the Rāstrakūta House is that of king Indra IV. This expert in the game of polo died by the method of Sallekhana at Śravaņa Belgoļa in A. D. 982. Two inscriptions prove this: one is the Gandhavāraņa Basti inscription at Sravaņa Belgola and the other is Kamagandananahalli stone inscription found in the Sira Taluka (Dt. Tumkur). The former relates the following : That on the date (specified) having observed the vow with a peaceful mind, Indra Rāja praised by the people, acquired all the great power of the king of gods (Indra ). The latter inscription records the fact that with an undisturbed mind performing the vows, the world-renowned Indra Raja gained the glory of the king of all the gods (Indra ). Evidently the celebrated example set by the Emperor Candragupta Maurya was not forgotten by the Karnataka monarchs even in the tenth Century A. D.”48.
The inscription to the west of the Terina Basti begins with a tribute to the king Rāja Cūdāmaņi and refers to Pittuga, a great hero of the Kali Age, brave in battle and able in war, praised by poets. He departed to the abode of Indra with a mind filled with auspicious thoughts ( subha-parināmade). He was in perfect peace of mind and deep in meditation at the feet of his Guru (gurucarana-mūlado! subha pariņāmade ). This event took place on the 10th day of the dark half of adhika Aşadha in 982 A. D. 4 9
47. Ibid., Vol. II, Ins. 57. 48. Medieval Jainism, p. 40. 49. Epigraphia Carnațică, Vol. II, Ins. 58 (134).
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