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Being thus directed by her husband, Sivānanda became very happy. She took her bath, put on clean clothes, decorated herself with light but costly ornaments, and then being surrounded by her maids, she sat on an excellent chariot and arrived at the caitya named Dyutipalasa in order to attend the congregation of Bhagavān Mahavira, She took her seat in the vast assembly and attentively listened the Lord's soul-stirring words and became thrilled at her heart. She accepted the 12 vows of the householder from Bhagavān Mahāvira and returned home.
Gandhara Gautama put the following question to Bhagavān Mahāyira,
"Bhante ! Is your disciple and follower (sy umano - pāsaka) Ananda fit to be initiated as a monk in the order"?
To this enquiry, Bhagavān Mahavira gave reply as follows:
"Gautama ! He is not. For many years to come, he will continue practising the vows of a householder, and then he will discard his mortal frame by a fast unto death and will be born in a vimana named Arunabha in Saudharma-kalpa with a life-span of four palyopamas".
Concentrating on the categories of soul and non-soul, Ananda and Sivananda lived happily on. They spent 14 years of their life in fulfilling silavratas, gunavratas, and practising formal renunciations, pausadha and fasts. The fifteenth year was now running. One night, during the second half, while Ananda was awake on a spiritual vigil, he took a decision as follows:
"I am a tower of strength to the king, the crown prince, the city guard, the city administrator and many others. About many of their affairs, they discuss with me. Being too busy and too much involved in their affairs, I have not been able to do full justice to the vows I accepted from Bhagavān Mahāvira. How fine it will be if at the dawn of the day, tomorrow, I invite my friends, relations and
