Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Bool Chand
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society

Page 40

( 32 ) on the Vina, Turya, and the great drum, in which joined shouts of victory, and the low and pleasing murmur of the people ; accompanied by all his pomp, all his splendour, all his army, all his train, by all his retinue, by all his magnificence, by all his grandeur, by all his ornaments, by all the tumult, by all the throng, by all subjects, by all actors, by all time-beaters, by the whole seraglio ; adorned with flowers, scented robes, garlands, and ornaments, and under the continuous din and sound of trumpets, with great state and splendour, with a great train of soldiers, vehicles, wand guests, under the sound, din, and noise of conches, cymbals, drums, castanets, horns, small drums, kettle 'drums, Muajas, Mridangas, and Dundubhis, which were accompanied at the same time by trumpets--went right through Kundapura to a park called the Shandavana of the Jñātrkas and proceeded to the excellent tree Asoka. There under the excellent tree Asoka he caused his palanquin to stop, descended from his palanquin, took off his ornaments, garlands, and finery with his own hands, and with his own hands plucked out his hair in five handfuls. When the moon was in conjunction with the asterism Uttaraphalguni, he after fasting two and a half days without drinking water, put on a divine robe, and quite alone, nobody else being present, he tore out his hair and leaving the house entered the state of houselessness."
The Ascetic Life.
Mahavira's ascetic life before his attainment of the. highest spiritual knowledge lasted for more then twelve years. Since his parents were lay disciples of the order of Pārsva, it would be justified to infer that he began his novitiate as an ascetical member of the same