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436
JAIN RAMAYAN
These cries of jubilation and glorification reverberated in the atmosphere. At the end of the procession, Hanuman and Lankasundari approached the Acharya; saluted him; and stood near him. The Kings and Queens entered the pavilion. The initiation ceremony began at an auspicious hour.
The seven hundred and fifty Kings and Queens got ready to receive the Deeksha. They pulled off their hair and showed their determination to renounce the samsar. The land of Hanupur was hallowed by the great Deeksha ceremony.
The Acharya recited the relevant mantras, put holy sandal powder over their heads and gave them the Deeksha. The cries of jubilation, resounded in the high skies. After the initiation ceremony was over, the people who had gathered there saluted the sadhus and sadhvis with heartfelt devotion. After that Sadhvi Lakshmivati set off from Hanupur followed by her disciples. Acharya Dharmaratnasoorishwar also set off on his travels accompanied by the new munis and his other disciples. Within a short time, all the people left the garden.
Kings became sadhus. Queens became sadhvis.
The whole universe was stunned by this event. Hanuman carried out severe spiritual austerities and attained Moksha.
When Shri Ram heard that Hanuman had become a sadhu, he fell into deep thought.
"Why did Hanuman adopt the Charitradharma? Why did he discard the pleasures of samsar ? What caused him anguish ? He has renounced wealth and prosperity, peace and happiness and has adopted the hard path of self-discipline. Hanuman is not wise in taking this step". Such thoughts and feelings arose in the mind of Shri Ram. Why did he entertain such thoughts and feelings? Why did he think of ridiculing Hanuman. He too was destined to attain Moksha in that life and it was but the mockery of his Karmas. Already Bharath and Sita had adopted the Sadhudharma. At that time, he had not entertained such
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