Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 479

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VII
animals), (18) Hastitāpasas (They killed an elephant with arrows and lived on its flesh for a long time. According to their faith they committed one sin only by killing an elephant in a year or so, their sinful deed was atoned by the effect of the merit acquired by them through the observance of non-violence to other beings during this period).' (19) Uddandagā (They always walked about with their staff raised high and they are also referred to in the Ācārānga Cūrnia along with Boạiya and Sasarakkha ascetics), 20) Jalābhiseka-kidhinagātrā (They did not take food by taking bath), (21) Ambuvāsinas (They lived in water), (22) Väyuvāsinas (They lived in or on air), (23) Jalavāsinas (They submerged themselves in water), (24) Celavāsinas or Velavāsinas (They lived on the sea-coast), (25) Ambubhaksinas (They lived by drinking water), (26) Vāya (or w)-bhaksiņas (They lived by inhaling air), (27) Saivālabhaksinas (They lived by eating moss)," (28) Mülāhārā (They lived on roots of trees), (29) Kandahārā (They lived on bulbous roots), (30) Patrāhārā (They lived on leaves), (31) Puspa. hārā (They lived on flowers), (32) Phalāhārā (Those who lived on fruits), (33) Bijāhārā (They lived on seeds), (34) Parisadiyakamilamülapāņờupatra puspaphalāhārā (They lived on rotten roots, bulbous roots, skin, leaves, flowers and fruits“), (35) Rukkhamūliyā (They lived under trees), (36) Vālavāsinas or Vilavāsinas (They lived in caves), (37) Vakkavāsinas (They put on bark-cloth), (38) Disāpokkhiyā (They sanctified all sides by sprinkling water and then collected flowers and fruits),
These Vānaprastha tāpasas passed time by making their souls burnt (i.e. purified) by the heat of five fires of austerity (pancaggitave him) like charcoal or cooked as charcoal, perched in a pan and burnt as fire-wood.
1 See Suyagadanga. II, 6 (comm.), they appear as Buddhists;
refer also to Lalitavistara-p. 248 for Tastivrata a scetics. 2 The Rāmāyana III. 2, 13. refers to Māņdakarņi, a hermit who
lived on air; also see Mahābhārata, 1. 96-42. 8 Cf. Lalitavistara--p. 248. 4 Cf. Digha-Nikaya-1. pp. 166 f.
6 Bhs, 11, 9, 417-18.