The "Acharanga Sutra" () describes three forms of the practice. Early Svetambara text "Shravakaprajnapti" notes that the practice is not limited to ascetics. The Bhagavati Sūtra (2.1) also describes "Sallekhana" in great detail, as it was observed by Skanda Katyayana, an ascetic of Mahavira. The 4th century text "Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra," and the Svetambara text "Nava-pada-prakarana," also provide detailed descriptions. The "Nava-pada-prakarana" mentions seventeen methods of "voluntarily chosen death", of which it approves only three as consistent with the teachings of Jainism. The practice is also mentioned in the 2nd century CE Sangam era poem "Sirupanchamoolam".