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Āryikās: The Digambara Sādhvis
takes part.58 Before the pūjā, the vairāgiņi may also make a pilgrimage. In accordance with her means, she offers to a muni or to several munis or aryikās the căturvidhadāna, the fourfold gift comprising food, shelter, pure medicine and books.
The dikṣā takes place in the morning under a big mandapa or at the temple. After a ritual bath, the vairāgini is ready to put on silk clothes and be escorted in procession as far as the mandapa.59 On arrival, a śrāvika makes the outline of a svastika with saffron-coloured grains of rice on a low table that she then covers with a new white cloth. The ăcărya recites the siddhabhakti.
Commencement of the rite
1. The vairagini asks pardon for her offences from her family and the whole assembly.
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2. She then offers pūjā to the image of the jinendra which has been erected in the maṇḍapa. Next, holding the śriphala (one or more fruits) in her hand, she approaches the ācārya, begging him to guide her in this saṁsāra-paribhramana or earthly voyage and to be for her the karṇadhāra, the boatman in the barque of căritra. The ācārya, in his reply recalls to mind the obligations imposed upon the aryikās, to which the vairāgini in turn replies that she accepts them. Then the ācārya, addressing the munis, the aryikās, her parents and the whole assembly, asks: "Is she to be admitted to dikṣā?" All respond joyously in the affirmative.
3. The ganini seats the vairagini on the low table, facing either towards the East or the North, and sits down herself beside her. The acarya recites certain mantras, while at the same time
58 In the North the śrävakas and śrāvikās themselves offer the pūjā, as pūjā is regarded as community-worship; in the South, it is offered by pūjāris, officiating priests.
59 The texts do not say when the vairagini changes her ordinary garments for the clothing of the ascetics. Mātāji, when consulted by letter, replied that "the vairāgiņi receives dikṣa clothed in white."
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