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66
ACĀRYA VIJAYAVALLABHASŪRI COMMEMORATION VOLUME
The preparations were made on a grand scale for Jamali's renunciation. The usual formalities were performed and Jamāli was taken to Lord Mahāvīra. His parents bowed and saluted the Lord and said thus : 'In this manner, Sir, the Ksatriya prince Jamāli is verily our only son, beloved and charming. Whose mere name is scarce to be heard, how difficult is it to have a sight of him ? Just as a lotus or a water lily sprouts in the mud, grows in the water but remains perfectly unsoiled with muddust or water-drops, in a similar manner, this Ksatriya prince Jamāli is born and has been brought up in pleasures and sensual enjoyments. Even then, they have no power over him. Nor have friends, kinsmen and near and dear relatives any attraction for him. O You Beloved of gods, He is averse to these worldiy objects and afraid of the pains of birth and death. He wishes, after having got himself shaved bald to get himself initiated before you. Therefore, we offer you this gift of him. Please accept, Beloved of gods, the gift of a disciple'.
The formal ceremonies were performed and Jamāli, together with five hundred young men, all in the heyday of their youth, entered the Holy Order. Muni Kalyāņa Vijaya holds the view that the initiation of Jamāli took place during the second year of Mahāvīra's attainment of Infinite Knowledge, i.e. Omniscience (499-498 B. V.) 6. Ascetic Life
That was a time when asceticism was essentially combined with profound scholarship. The first and foremost duty of a young neophyte was, as usual, to study the eleven Angas. Naturally Jamāli was instructed in in these holy scriptures. In due course he attained a position of distinction and influence. Mahāvira then made him head of 500 monks and 1000 nuns who were under the supervision of Priyadarśanā, Jamāli's wife in worldly relations who also accepted the life of a female ascetic when her husband had renounced the world. It seems that the high rank held by Jamāli was not on account of his exceptional learning but due to his influence on his fellow monks, who had a great regard for him during his household life. The statement that he studied the eleven holy scriptures appears to be a tentative one because he could not claim mastery over them as will be evident from the questions put to him when he was bent on being regarded as Kevalin.
For about ten years he remained with Lord Mahāvīra. Definite 1. śramana Bhagavān Mahāvīra, p. 79.
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