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ELEVEN PRATIMAS
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normally dines after the ascetic whom he accompanies has finished his food. Both of them are to accompany the ascetic and render him all the services with the same devotion as vaivāvstya. The former wears a langoti (a piece of cloth to hide the nudity) and a white piece of cloth of three cubits in length and of single width, while the latter wears only a langoti. The latter has to remove his hair by loca while it is open to the former to shave his hair. Both of them are to observe full prosadhopavāsa on four days of the month. They are not expected to practise penance on a hill-top or engage in other rigorous austerity under a tree during rains or on the bank of a river. The ailaku has to eat from the palm of his hand. Both of them have to carry a peacock's soft feather-bunch for cleaning the ground before sitting or sleeping. It is open to a kşullaka to use a bowl for taking his food; he can sit down while taking his food.
The final stage of a house-holder is thus a preparation for asceticism. The highest point of householder's discipline has been reached and he has renounced everything that is his own including his kith and kin. He practically performs all the austerities and awaits his initiation into asceticism.
It would be obvious that the eleven stages are scientifically conceived. The graded steps have to be climbed one after the other only after the house-holder has been firm in the preceding step or steps. The climbing commences with the Right Faith, and progress is achieved only when he is prepared to observe the more difficult vows and rules of conduct.
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