Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 422

391
Sec. ij ŠTUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
In the first month he performed this austerity by observing the vow of continuous fast of one day by one day, i.e. alternate day (cautthan-cautthenań), sitting upon his hands in the day time at the meditating place (ātā panabhūmi), where the sunrays fell and facing the scorching sun. In the night he practised it, sitting in the vīrāsana posture (a kind of yogāsana) without putting on any piece of cloth.
In this way this austerity was performed by him in the second month with the observance of two consecutive fasts, i. e. two days' fast (chathan.charthenar), in the third month with three-three (atthamari-althamenan), in the fourth month with four-four (dasaman-dasamenan), in the fifth month with five-five (vārasamaria-vārasamenam), in the sixth-month with six-six (coddasamar.coddasamenam), in the seventh month with seven-seven (solasamarin-8olasameņam), in the eighth month with eight-eight (atthārasamarı-atthārasamenar), in the ninth month with nine-nine (vžsatiman-vīsatimenan), in the tenth month with ten-ten (bāvi. samam bāvisamenar), in the eleventh month with eleven-eleven (cauvvisatiman.cauvvisatimena), in the twelfth month with twelve-twelve (chavvīsatimar-chavvīsatimenari), in the thirteenth month with thirteen-thirteen (atthāvīsatimaṁ-atthāvīsatimenam), in the fourteenth month with fourteen-fourteen (tīgaimantīsaimenar), in the fifteenth month with fifteen-fifteen (battīsatimam-battīsatimenam), and in the sixteenth month with the observance of sixteen-sixteen fasts (cottīsai man-cottīsaimenań).
In the performance of this Gunaratnasamvatsara austerity total period of thirteen months and seventeen days is taken for the observance of the vow of fasting and that of seventy-three days for Pāranaka (day of conclusion of fast).
Thus after having practised this act of austerity, Skandaka performed various penances by observing many continuous fasts, such as, two, three, four, five, etc., and by meditation on his soul.1
1 Bhs, 2c 1, 93.