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Sallekhanā in Practice
Gauda and the grandson of Kāma Gauda, died after adopting the vow of samnyāsana and attained salvation on the date of coronation of Hariyappa Vodeyar in Śaka year 1276 ( 1354 A. D.), Vijaya Samvatsara, 3rd day of the dark half of the month of Pusya. It is also mentioned that his wife Chennakka attained salvation by sahagamana ( sati).18
At Echiganahalli of Nanjangud Taluka, there is a temple dedicted to Neminatha Tírt hankara. To the North of the te near the river, an epitaph was erected by Māņika Deva to commemorate the death of his Guru Meghacandra Deva who was an epitome of all virtues and an embodiment of the Jaina faith. There is no express mention that he adopted the vow of Sallekhanā. It is stated that he attained mukti (muktige sandaru) in the Śaka year 1293 ( 1371 A. D.). Pārsva-deva and Bahubali-deva are praised as Munis who knew every branch of knowledge and science, respected by all kings and had defeated many disputants. 1 9
Rāmpur Hobli in Nanjangud Taluka seems to have had been a Jaina centre as there are many inscriptions. There seem to have been some Jain temples also. Hullahalli is a village in that Hobli. A stone inscription found to the North of the main entrance to the Varadarajasvāmi temple states that numerous promoters of the Jaina faith were born in the Müla-Sangha, Desīya-gana, the Kundakundānvaya and Ingaleśvara line. The incription is very much effaced and only a part of it is readable. In the saka year 1294 ( 1372 A. D.), on Saturday, the bright half of the Aşādha pratipada, Śrutamuni abandoned all things of this world, spent all his time in meditating upon the Parameșthis with devotion and attained the exalted state of salvation.30
The 15th stone at Hire-Avali in Sorab Taluka records the death of Rāmagauda, the son of Canda-gauņa of Avaliya, by Sallekhanā repeating the pañcanamaskāra. He was the
18. Ibid., Vol. VIII, Ios. 102. 20. Ibid., Vol. III, Ins. 43. 19. Ibid., Vol. III, Ins. 104.
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