Jainism

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing House

Page 22

JAINISM
7
that ever herald the coming of one of the great prophets of the race — the songs of the Devas, the music of Gandharvas, the scattering of flowers from heaven — these are ever the accompaniments of the birth of the one of the Saviours of the world. And the Child was born amid these rejoicings, and since, after His conception in the family the family had increased in wealth, in power, in prosperity, they named Him Vardhamana — the Increaser of the prosperity of his family. He grew up as a boy, as a youth, loving and dutiful to His parents; but ever in His heart is the vow that He had taken, long lives before, to renounce all, to reach illumination, to become a Saviour of the world. He waits until father and mother are dead, so that He may not grieve their hearts by the leaving; and then, taking the permission of His elder brother and the royal councillors, He goes forth surrounded by crowds of people to adopt the ascetic life. He reaches the jungle; He pulls off his robes, the royal robes and royal ornaments; He tears out his hair; He puts on the garment of the ascetic; He sends away the royal procession that followed Him, and