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Śrāvakäcära : Code of Conduct of a Householder]
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different kinds of penances in the following manner. The first four years the vikrtis are avoided, in the next four years various austerities are observed and the next two years are spent in fasting alternately with acamla. (only rice and other grain and water). Of the eleventh year in the first six months he does not practice fasting for more than two days and the next six months he observes longer fasting and during this period he is to break fasting with acamla, in the twelfth year a monk (or a laymen) has to engage in acamla everyday uninterruptedly. Occasionally during this period he undertakes fortnightly and monthly fasting. 57
Siddhasenagani quotes a verse in which the first four years are assigned to various austerities and the next four years vikrtis are avoided. This is also the order followed in the digambara tradition. The saṁlekhanā vrata is adoped when the aspirant feels the approach to bad time or physical weakness or any calamity or the approach of death which renders the performance of the necessary duty impossible. In such circumstances he stars fasting. Gradually increasing its length an observes the moral and spiritual discipline as strictly as possible and finally gives up four kinds of elements for the whole life. He now spends his time in the practice of the anupreksā and the cultivation of self awareness and meditation till death and emancipation from worldly bondage. This type of spiritual life is called ārādhanā which has found elaborate treatment in books like the Mulārādhanā.
The last stage of samlekhanā is sanstara diksā or death bed consecration expressed special form of confession (vikatana) and reinforcement (uccharana) of the vows. The last moment on earth will then be spent in concentration on the pañca namaskāra and on the catuḥsarana and in mediation on the anupreksā and all that is covered by he term ārādhanā.58
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