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Saylä on some pretext and after spending a couple of days there they boarded the train from Surendranagar and went to Surat. There they bowed to Guru and expressed their intent to renounce. The Guru, however, refused to initiate them without the permission of their parents.
On the other hand Kushalä was much agitated to hear about the matter. She took the accountant with her and went to Surat crying and lamenting. She promised in the witness of Guru that if Lallubhai continued to hold detachment after staying two more years in worldly life, she would not prevent him from renouncing. Since there was no alternative, Lallubhai went back home and spent most of the time in religious activities. After having firm determination to renounce, he had thus to stay in the worldly life for two more years.
During that period his wife became pregnant and in 1884 she delivered a son, who was named Mohan. Everyone was pleased thereby, but Lallubhai and Devkaran now began to think of renouncing. By the time the boy was five weeks old, they went to Godhrä, where Harakhchandji was camping. After bowing to him they requested for initiation. The Guru induced them to increase their detachment, but declined to initiate without permission of the mother. Thereupon Lallubhai requested him to visit Vataman. The Guru agreed and stayed there for a month. During that time mother Kushalä learnt about the importance of detachment and also got the advantage of serving the Guru. At last with her permission it was decided to initiate both the men at Khambhät on the 18th day of the month of Jyeshta in Vikram era 1940 (about June of 1884). Accordingly the Guru went to Khambhät and at an auspicious time on the fixed date both of them were initiated. Lallubhai was named as Lallujiswami and Devkaran as Devkaranswämi. The latter was designated as the pupil of the former
At the time of Lallujiswami's initiation there had been very few monks in the Sthanakwäsi sect of Khambhät. After his initiation the number of monks continued to rise and went up to fourteen. As such, every one, particularly Guru Harakhchandji, considered Lallujiswämi's entry in the cadre as auspicious. Devkaranji and Lallujiswämi studied and became well versed in scriptural and other religious compositions and strictly observed the monastic code. Devkaranji became known for his discourses and gained the popularity. By virtue of his straightforwardness, devotion and wholesome approach Lallujiswämi, however, gained a place at the heart of everyone from Guru to other monks and nuns as well as of the lay people. Everyone felt that he would succeed to the position of Guru in due course and would enhance the stature of that position.
For five years after his initiation Lallujiswämi used to observe fast on every alternate day; while he was at Kathor for the monsoon period, he observed 17 days' fast. Moreover, he was resorting to meditation along with the Guru. Late in the evening Harakhchandji used to undertake Käusagga of Namutthunam for two hours. That time Lallujiswämi also used to undertake the same. In spite of observing such rituals he could not overcome the sexual instinct. As such, he used to repeatedly ask the Guru about the same and was resorting chanting, austerities etc. as suggested. He, however, did not feel happy and satisfied till the said instinct was not uprooted. Later on he used to mention that he liked to sing devotional songs while sitting on the platform outside Upäshray. That time he did not have the concept of inner development.
Lälchand Vakhatchand Vakil was the head of Sthänakwäsi sect of Khambhät and Ambälälbhäi was his adopted son. During 1889 the latter went to Ahmedabad along with Chhotäläl, the son of Mänekchand Fatehchand, in order attend a wedding ceremony. There they happened to see Joothäbhäi Ujamshi and came to know that Shrimad Rajchandra was self-realized and that his teaching could be very beneficial. Thereupon Ambälälbnäi made copies of his letters addressed to Joothäbhäi. Thereafter he wrote several letters to Shrimad inviting him to Khambhät. Since there was no response, he wrote about his intent to go to Bombay. Then Shrimad replied that he would shortly arrive at Khambhät.
Once Harakhchandji was giving discourse about Bhagvatisutra on the first floor of Upäshray and was sending the finished pages of the Sutra downstairs to Lallujiswämi. The latter was discussing the same with Dämodarbhäi. In one of the pages it was mentioned that no one can gain liberation till the time destined for that. Thereupon a doubt
