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S.P. PADMAPRASAD: JAIN FOLK SONGSANDLEGENDSOF KARNATAKA
6. Dikṣā song
Another long narrative song which could be described as- 'the special contribution of Karnatak Jains to Indian folklore' is - the dikṣā song. The ceremoney conducted when a person receives sainthood giving up the family links is called 'Dikṣā'. In this song, the firm decision of a youth to receive dikṣā and his parents' effort to keep him in the family-are very well-sketched.
When the son says he will renounce the family and will go as a monk, parents try to dissuade him recalling the laxury he has and explaining what they will do for him. Same verses in the song go like this
'you have house with upstairs and treasure full of gold we shall divide it between you and your brother / my son, Don't go for meditation'.
To this, he answers
'Let the upstaired house and treasure full of gold Be given to elder brother/O my mother, I am going to have dikṣā /
They push forword another temptation—
'Choose any spinster who pleases your eyes We shall arrange the marrainge, O, my son Don't go for meditation/
Son replies thus
"Then getting into bondge with others children and quarreling for share with cousins/
O, mother, it is better to go for meditation".
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Then the parents describe the difficult vows to be followed by
a Jain saint and tells not to go for that
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