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THE INITIATION AND OMNISCIENCE OF AJITA 81
consequence of fate and the Master's power, the people did not become exceedingly grasping even in obtaining whatever they desired. Rich in compassion, the Lord satisfied the earth with money in this way, like a wishinggem that had unexpected power, for a year.
The initiation-ceremony (188-266)
At the end of the year's giving, Sakra's throne shook, and he knew by clairvoyant knowledge that it was time for the Lord's initiation. Hari went with the gods, the Sāmānikas, etc., to make the departure-festival at the time of the Blessed One's initiation. Making the sky appear to have moving pavilions with the aerial cars, and to have mountains rising up with his tall fine elephants; reaching the sky with horses, like the ocean with waves; touching the chariot of the sun with chariots with unstumbling gait ; making tilakas on the sky with flags carrying wreaths of bells and imitating the ear-flaps of the sky-elephants; being serenaded by some gods in a charming way in the gandhāra-scale; 159 being praised by some with new poems; being instructed by some who had the borders of their garments placed over their mouths; being reminded by some of the ancient stories about the Tirthakṛts, Divaspati went in a moment from heaven to the city Vinita, considering it exceedingly purified by the Master's feet.
The other Indras of the gods and asuras went likewise, knowing by the shaking of their thrones that it was time for the Lord's initiation.
Then the Indras of the gods, Acyuta and others, and the Indras of men, Sagara and others, made in turn the initiation-bath of the Lord. Śakra rubbed his body which was wet with the bath-water with a devaduṣyacloth, like a chief-jeweler rubbing a jewel. Vajrapāņi rubbed the Teacher of the World with shining ointments with his own hand, like an appointed perfumer. Vasava,
159 194. See I, n. 79.
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