Page:The Heart of Jainism (IA heartofjainism00stevuoft).djvu/253



layman has now reached the summit of his ambition, and is prepared to take those five celebrated vows which Mahāvīrahimself laid down as the only entrance through which a man can pass to the ascetic state.

As one reads the biographies of the great Jaina saints, or even studies the lengthy route we have just been following, one can see that, though the Jaina did not insist on their candidates taking a long training like that of the Vedic schools, they nevertheless did not intend their monks to be the ignorant, ill-prepared and undisciplined men they often are at present. The Jaina openly wish that they could insist on a thorough preparation for their sadhus such as is customary for the Christian ministry.

The life story of an ascetic may be said to begin with his initiation or Dīkṣā, and the writer is indebted to a Śvetāmbara monk for the following account of a Jaina call and ordination.

The man in question had heard a famous sādhu preach on the transitoriness of life and happiness and the superiority of the religious over the lay life, and had thereupon followed the preacher for a year as his disciple, and at the completion of twelve months received initiation.

A great procession was formed and he was led through the town to a banyan tree (an aśoka tree would also have served). There a pujārī (officiating priest) had arranged a small three-tiered platform with an image of one of the Tīrthaṅkara at the top. A Jaina layman began the