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chatths (two days fasting). He never had a daily meal nor a break-fast after one day's fasting. All the fastings done by by Sramana Bhagavān Mahāvīra, were even without taking a drop of water. Out of 3645 days he took meagre food on 349 days only. From the time of his dîkṣā to the day of his Kévala Jnana (perfect knowledge) he had sleep for two ghatikas ( 48 minutes) only at the temple of Sula-pant the rest of the time (more than twelve years and a half) he never slept. During this time Śramaṇa Bhagavan always sat in an wikata äsana (ä posture assumed while milking a cow) but he never sat steady on the ground.
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बारस चैव य वासा मासा छचेव अद्धमासं च
वीरवरस्स भगवओ एसो
छउमत्थपरिभाओ ॥ १ ॥
1 Bārasa céva ya väsă măsă chaccéva addha-masam ca Vira-varssa Bhagavaö éso chaumattha-parião
1 Twelve years and six months and one half month12 years and one fortnight-this is the due course of time of chadmastha kāla of Bhagavan Sri Vira
Paramātmā.
APPENDIX
People of the present generation may naturally raise a doubt: "How can human body by kept alive without food and water for so many days (as six months)? Or, how can mind be steady, and do its work during penance without taking any food?
Jain Education International
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Looking to the time and bodily constitutions of the human beings of this age, this doubt is quite natural. But there is not in the least, any improbability or exaggeration in the accounts given about the penance (fastings) done by Śramaņa Bhagavān Mahavira,
1. Because, the bodies of Tirthankaras and of all persons whose this bhava (woridly existence) is the last, as they are sure to attain Siddhi-pada (Final Emancipation) on death, are composed of what is technically called Vajra-vriṣabha-nārāca
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