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Their Ascetics: 211
respectful greeting to the "Acarya" and his assistants. The future monk or nun begs forgiveness for his (her) transgressions, recites the appropriate "mantra” and “sūtra" and makes a small speech to the participants to show his (her) joy about his (her) consecration.
If it is a future Śvetambara nun, she goes backwards, with her “guruņi", in a contiguous place or behind a curtain that hides them from the participants. She takes off her crown, jewels and fine array and covers herself with a great green texture. A barber proceeds to the clipping of her hair using the water from the vessel and leaves only a few locks. Then, the future nun puts on a white robe and presents herself to the "Acharya" and the assembly.
The "Acarya" says some words to the future nun and pulls out the remaining locks of hair from her head, one after the other. She must pray during this hardship and not show any feeling of pain or suffering. If she belongs to an obedience that wears a "muhapatti”, the "Acarya" places one of them in front of her mouth and fastens it to her ears. He gives her the broom and the other articles mentioned above. The attendants to the ceremony sing the "Great Mantra" and the "Acarya" asks the future nun to pronounce solemnly the "great vows" (mahāvrata) of Jain ascetics. When the vows have been taken, the assembly sing the hymn of praise to the Tirthankara. The new nun says the auspicious "sūtra" (mangalasūtra) three times for the participants. The "Acarya" may give a new name to the nun concerned. He does it systematically for a "Mūrtipujaka". At the end of the ceremony, sweets are given to the participants and the new nun joins her group of ascetics.
For a "Śvetambara" monk, it is nearly the same, except that he abandons his crown in the open and retreats to remove his beautiful garments, to have his hair partly shaved and to put on the white robe he will wear henceforth.
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