Risabha Deva

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 44

CHAPTER VI
WORLD-FLIGHT AND SANNYASA
Great men cannot remain idle ; they have their work to do, which they have set before thein' whether in this life or in the previous one or ones! When a major portion of the life of the WORLD TEACHER was spent he placed Bharata on the royal seat, an appointed Bahubali the heir-apparent to the Throne. He gave His lands and territory to His other sons and Telations, according to their fitness and needs, and gave away much wealth in charity. Having done all this, He took leave from His parents, wives and kinsmen. The assembled devas and men then wor. shipped Him.
Risabha Deva then rose and stepped into a celestial palanquin which the devas bad brought for the occasion. He was carried into the Siddharta ka forest near. Allahabad. The palanquin was placed on a huge transparent stone slab which had been placed there for the occasion, and the LORD stepped out and took His seat on it. It was now the evening time. The Lord sat under a banyan tree, filled with the spirit of vnirágya (world-flight) in the sitting yoga posture, facing the East. He saluted the Perfect Souls who had reached safety and nirvana before Him; and full of cheerfulness and great enthusiasm pulled out, in five handfuls, the hairs of His head