Tirthankar Mahavir

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 61

With hearts as heavy as a cloud laden with water, everyone wished Vardhamana farewell. He proceeded and walked away with firm steps. The were no wailings, no lamentations, no cries of grief.
Celebrations of the Great Renunciation
It was the tenth day of the dark half of the month of Kartika. It was an auspicious day because on that day Vardhamana renounced his palace. Just as when he had mentally renounced it before several years, he experienced not the slightest pain on renouncing it physically.
In celebration of Vardhamana's renunciation ceremony, King Nandivardhana had decorated the entire city of Kundanapura with cclour ful flags and artistic arches. One thousand and eight golden pitchers, studded with gems, were filled with holy water brought by the gods from the milky ocean. The water was mixed with the holy earth from all religious places and fragrant herbs. Vardhamana had his final bath with the water from these pitchers. Then his body was rubbed clean with the best cloth and anointed with fragrant paste made from sandal wood, etc. He was adorned with garlands made from the flowers of wish-fulfilling trees. He put on white