Jainism For Beginners Level 02

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

Page 71

and silver pitchers filled with water from various holy places were prepared. The prince was anointed with perfumed pastes and bathed with holy waters. He was dressed in royal garments and decked with precious ornaments. They carried him in a palanquin in a grand procession on the tenth day of the dark half of month of Margashirsh. On this day at an auspicious moment Prince Vardhaman left the palace forever. Indra and the other gods carried the palanquin on their shoulders.
receive. At the end of the year that was marked by generosity, Prince Vardhman had attained
perfect AparigrahatvaFreedom from attachment for
After alighting from the palanquin, Prince Vardhaman removed all the garments and ornaments and handed them over to Indra. He stood under an Ashok tree and in the presence of thousands of people took the solemn vow of renunciation. He plucked all the hair on his head in four handfuls and the hair on his chin and lips in one handful. This is known as Panchamusthi loch. Mahavir solemnly recited the words, "I bow down to all the liberated souls”, and accepted lifelong renunciation. He took the five great vows of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession in order to avoid accumulation of any new Karma in the future and to annihilate past Karma. Indra then placed a divine piece of cloth called Devadusya on his left shoulder. Right after initiation (Diksha) Bhagawan Mahavir acquired the Manah-Paryava Jnan knowledge that allowed him to perceive the feelings and thoughts of all living beings.
LIFE OF BHAGWAN MAHAVIR
possession. He was now fully prepared for the life of a monk. His elder brother made elaborate preparations for the initiation. There was great excitement and enthusiasm throughout the
country. Indra and other heavenly gods participated in the ceremony. Gold