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Dikşă: Consecration
465
The dikşā of a Mūrtipūjaka vairāgiņi takes place in the temple, often amid great pomp and ceremony.63 An image of Mahåvira, made of precious metal, is carried in procession and erected in the place where the dikşä is taking place, as a symbol of fidelity to the tradition. The young sādhvi receives also the danda.
b) The mahădikşå: The Great Consecration
This may take place, according to the needs of each case, at an interval of either seven days or four months or six months after the diksā.64 Among the Sthānakavāsi sădhvis this is a ceremony that takes place withing the intimacy of the group in the upāśraya of the place where the group happens to be. The ācārya presides. The important parts of this rite are:
- the kşetra-viếuddhi, preparatory purification;65
orally. Before the pronouncing of the vow, the ācārya invites the vairāgiņi to reflect once again, to consider the austere life that awaits her and not to hesitate to withdraw, if she feels herself not strong enough for this type of life.
63 The dikşā is preceded by pūjās offered in the temple during the days just prior to the event; cf. Sajjana, 1960, pp. 70-76. I was able to be present in February 1971 in Mumbai at the dikşå of Bhārati, a disciple of Sadhvi Mļgavati, but the very dense throng did not permit me to follow the ceremony throughout.
64 During the period of time between the two dikşas the Mūrtipūjaka sādhvis are required each day to observe certain abstinences and to recite a certain number of rosaries and of caturviṁsatistavas followed by the kāyotsarga; cf. Sajjana, 1960, pp. 79-80.
65 Cf. P 710 ff. The Great dikșă confirms the sādhvi in the state of renunciation through the pronouncing of the Great Vows.
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