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temporary minor vows of daily observance. Thus, on the day of his break-fast, he may get a very small quantity of food; on another such day, he may get only water, and no food; on a third such day, he may have to go without any food, as well as, without water. But Dhanya Muni was not at all sorry or grieved for it. Even with such rigorous austerities, his mind was perfectly calm and well-balanced. On his break-fast day he used to take his food or drink material, keeping his mind, speech and body in perfect calmness and self-restraint. While eating his food, he did not have any desire or intense longing for any particular variety of food or drink-material. Like a snake hurriedly entering his accustomed burrow in the ground. Dhanya Muni was rapidly taking his faultless food and drink-material without waiting for tasting it
An account of the condition of the body of this highly pious muni (ascetic ) caused by excellent devotional austerities and fasting, has been given in Jaina Āgamas ( scriptures ). It is interesting. Only an abridged account is as follows :
The body of this pious saint had become withered to such an extent that there were only bones, skin and circulatory system supplying poor blood to the remaining systems of the body. When he walked, the bones of his body made a creaking noise resembling that of a moving cart full of coals. He was moving about simply by the vigour of his living body. He had no bodily strength but he possessed vigorous mental power. His whole body appeared brilliant with the luster of his severe austerities. The pedestal of his feet resembled a pădukā (slipper made of wood ) The fingers of his hands and the toes of his feet resembled dry pods of ground-nut fruit. His thighs resembled the thighs of a female peacock. His wajst resembled the foot of a camel. His spinal column was like a wreath of small pebbles of stone His chest resembled a mass made of bamboo-leaves. His arns and fore-arms resembled the pods of fruits or the stalks of Sângari shrubs or dried bodies of dead serpents
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