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gathering. Impressed, re ika accepted right belief; and alongwith Abhayakum ra and others became votaries (r vakas). Prince Meghakum ra and Nandi e a accepted initiation into monkhood.
Nandi e a's initiation is described as follows: - Listening to the Lord Mah v ra's sermon Nandi e a desired to take initiation. A god said, from the sky, “Right now your layman's karma is strong, so stay at home for some more time.” However, the prince paid no heed and took initiation at the Lord's feet. He gained knowledge from the elder monks and started observing different kinds of austerities. Again, the god said, “Nandi e a. your enjoyment (vedan ya) karmasstill remain. You cannot attain salvation without fulfilling those.” This time too Nandi e a paid no attention. Once, he went alone seeking alms; and by coincidence, reached the home of a courtesan. When he spoke of religious benefits, the courtesan said, “Here we only speak of material benefits” and she smiled. Nandi e a did not like that woman smiling and filling the place with gems using a straw, said, “Take this, material gain” and left.
The courtesan was amazed to see the pile of gems and ran behind Nandi e a saying “Oh my beloved, where are you going leaving me alone? I shall give up my life if you leave." Because of the courtesan's loving request and emergence of the enjoyment karma he agreed to stay and said -“But I shall accept food only after awakening knowledge of ten people each day. The day something is found wanting in this, I shall return to my teachers.” The courtesan agreed to this condition and Nandi e a started staying there. Observing his vow, he would give awakening knowledge to ten people everyday and send them for initiation to the Lord. One day he could only inspire nine people to take initiation into the spiritual path and the courtesan kept inviting him repeatedly to eat. Ultimately, when she went to call him personally, Nandi e a said -“Okay, the tenth person for today is I.” Saying so, he left the courtesan's house and immersed himself in austerities at the feet of the Lord. Lord completed 13th rainy season halt at R jag ha.
Note: A year's completion of mendicancy is after initiation (M rga r a 10) to the full moon day of the bright fortnight of K rtika and the New Year starts from M rga r a again. After omniscience, too the same calculation has been followed, whereas omnisciencehappened on the 11th
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