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THE INITIATION AND OMNISCIENCE OF AJITA
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their doors and courtyards were left empty; some, even though guests announced from a foreign country had arrived; others, though the birth-festival of a son had just started; others, though an auspicious time for marriage was present just then ; and others, though the paraphernalia for a bath had been brought; some, who had taken the sip of water, 101 though the meal was half eaten; others, though their anointing, which had been undertaken at the right time, was half applied; others, though their ornaments, ear-rings, etc., were only half put on; others, though the news of the Master's departure-festival was only half heard; some, the wreath of flowers being only half tied in the braid of hair; others, the tilaka being half made on the forehead; some, their household-orders only half spoken; others, the daily ceremonies only half performed going on foot, though conveyances were near at hand, purified by devotion, came to see the Master. ...Now in front, now behind, now at both sides of the Lord of the World the citizens stood, like young elephants around an elephant. Some climbed on top of shops, some on cottages, some on palace-roofs, and others on the tops of platforms; some scaled the copings of walls, some climbed to the tops of trees, and others to the backs of tall elephants from a desire to see the Master. The townswomen, delighted, waved the ends of their garments with the appearance of chauris--some of them; others threw parched rice on the ground like seed of dharma. Some lifted up the seven-branched fire-vessel like a fire; others set full dishes like (heaped-up) glory before the Lord. Some placed full pitchers like depositories of blessings; others waved cloths like twilight-clouds in the sky. Some sang auspicious songs, and some danced, and others laughed charmingly.
The sky was covered by devoted Vidyādharas, gods,
101 219. Ācamana is a little cold water sipped after eating and rinsing the hands and mouth.
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