The people of Koshambi arranged for a grand renunciation ceremony. The minister organised grand celebrations in the huge temple of Koshambi. From morning till evening, Shikhi donated to the poor, orphan and needy. The minister had opened all his lockers for charity. People felt grateful receiving from Shikhi with his compassionate eyes and lotus-like palms.
Brahmadutt and Pingal were around him. Indrasharma had also been staying in Brahmadutt’s palace since eight days. He had put all his efforts by being an active part in organizing the program.
On the eighth day, eight attendants made Shikhi bathe with fragrant water. His hair was combed and precious gems were adorned on them. Reddish saffron paste was applied slightly on his forehead. He was made to wear blue gemstone earrings and a necklace of valuable gems. A paste of kumkum, kasturi and aagru was applied on his body. He wore a soft white coloured dhoti it and a yellow silk upper clothing studded with precious stones. Shikhi’s bright white teeth and blood-red lips were adding his charm. Kajal was applied in his eyes. Looking at his face glowing like a bright full moon, all the attendants kept him away from the cast of evil eye.
Along with the veena, flute and other musical instruments, groups of women started singing melodiously. The flowers of juhi and bakul made the atmosphere of entire palace aromatic. The palace was decorated with flowers of all seasons. Divine music was being played in the courtyard of the palace and artists were singing auspicious songs.
Here, Brahmadutt was anxiously thinking about the separation from his son and blankly staring at the ground. His heart was filled with indescribable feelings. He could neither laugh nor cry! Despite all the negative emotions, one positive feeling was helping him gather courage, and that was - Shikhi has chosen the best path in life.
Shikhi was made to sit in a gold and silver carriage decorated with colourful flowers. The carriage was pulled by white horses and the sky echoed with divine sounds.
It was a beautiful spring morning. A huge crowd of people had gathered on the royal highway of Koshambi. Everyone was talking about Shikhi. All the ministers of the king, noblemen, citizens, youngsters and kids were walking behind Shikhi’s carriage. They were followed by one thousand soldiers moving on horses. Passing through the roads of Koshambi, the procession entered the Ashok Park.
The Ashok Park was vast and magnificent. Flowering plants of jasmine, chameli, ashok, taal, tamaal, nagkesar, arjun kadumb, tilak and various other trees were adorned with creepers. Flowers of all seasons had blossomed. The entire park resonated with the sweet sounds of cuckoos and peacocks. The chirping of various birds in the park pleased everyone. The mild fragrant wind was making everyone delighted.
The procession ended where Acharya Shri Vijaysinh was seated with all the other monks. Shikhi got down of the carriage. Brahmadutt held his hand. Shikhi walked towards Acharyaji. All the people sat in the huge ground. Acharyaji started with the scriptural procedure of granting monkhood to Shikhi.
***
First of all, Acharyaji made Shikhi perform the mandatory rituals. Shikhi was asked to stand on the left side and worship Lord.
Then Shikhi worshipped Acharyaji and said, “It’s my wish that you grant me monkhood!”
“As you wish,” said Acharyaji.
Then he recited the Navkar Mantra and gave Shikhi the Rajoharan which is the prime symbol of a Jain monk.
Shikhi respectfully accepted the Rajoharan and said, “It’s my wish that you shave my head.”
“As you wish,” said Acharyaji.
He recited Navkar Mantra and plucked off Shikhi’s hair.
Shikhi bowed down to Acharyaji and said, “It’s my wish that you grant me the vows of monkhood.”
“As you wish,” said Acharyaji.
Then both Shikhi and Gurudev stood in meditation and worshipped the Tirthankars. After completing their Kayotsarg, Acharyaji recited Navkar Mantra and granted the lifetime vows of monkhood to Shikhi. With a detached heart, Shikhi accepted the vows by verbally agreeing to it thrice. After this, Gurudev put sandalwood powder on his head as a token of his blessings.
Shikhi worshipped Acharyaji and said, “I wish to receive your teachings.”
Gurudev put sandalwood powder on his head again and said, “May you cross the ocean of this physical world and become prosperous with great virtues.”
Shikhi bowed down and said, “Gurudev, I requested you. Likewise, can I go to the other monks and request them too?”
“Yes you may,” said Gurudev.
Shikhi worshipped them and recited Navkar Mantra while encircling the four idols of Tirthankars placed back to back facing the four directions.
Gurudev and all the monks said, “May you cross the ocean of life cycles and be rich in good qualities.”
Saying this, all of them put sandalwood powder on his head.
Brahmadutt stood up, joined his hands and said respectfully to Acharyaji, “Gurudev, I am giving you my beloved son who has become self-realised with your teachings. Please look after his well being. Now he is devoted to you.”
Brahmadutt started weeping and sat down. Pingal wiped off his tears and said, “Please don’t cry. Be happy that your son has bravely entered the battlefield to fight against his karmas. You should be proud about it.”
Pingal stood up, silenced the crowd and requested Gurudev, “The difficult path of liberation on which you have made Shikhi move ahead; I hope we all get encouraged to choose the same path in life. Kindly preach us so that our souls get awakened.”
The intense voice of Acharyaji echoed in the park.
"Gentlemen, all of us have lived in nigod for an infinite period of time. The term nigod refers to infinite souls living in one body. A very minute body with dormant consciousness. There was no limit to the sorrows. We experienced way more pain there as compared to hell.
Our souls have escaped out of nigod.
We have lived innumerable lives as one-sensed creatures of earth, water, fire, wind and natural vegetation. Then, we got the incarnations of two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed creatures. All those lives were full of sorrow and pain. In the life of five-sensed creatures, we lived as animals, humans, hellish as well as heavenly beings. Even in all these lives, if we lose our mind and continue to accumulate sinful karmas, then the cycle of miserable incarnations will begin again. So, wake up, open the eyes of knowledge, and practise spirituality. It is necessary to get rid of sins.
The life of a saint is the only life which is completely free from sins. There is no kind of sinful act in a saint's life. If you have no fear of hardships, then accepting monkhood will be simple. You will be able to get rid of the infinite karmas accumulated in the soul and the soul will become enlightened, pure and free.
You need to build the enthusiasm to lead the life of a saint. If Shikhi, who is on the threshold of youth, can become a saint, then why can’t you all? Break all your worldly bonds, give up on attachments, put out the fire of ill-feelings. This way, all of you can also move ahead towards salvation.”
Acharyaji completed his sermon. The sound of cheers by the people was echoing in the entire park. Everybody bowed down to Monk Shikhi, heartily complimented him and returned to the town.
Jalini!
She was not present in the renunciation ceremony. She locked herself in the room. However, her mind was occupied with Shikhi’s thoughts only. But in a different manner!
‘Now he is gone. He will never return home! The people who accept monkhood, have to keep moving from one place to another! Let him wander! Clouds of sorrow should burst upon him! I will be very happy! He should not get food or water on time, he should not get a place to rest at night! That will be good. He should die of hunger and thirst!
It would be great if some animal like lion, jackal or tiger attacks him while he is passing through the jungle; and tears off his body, eats up his flesh, drinks his blood and celebrates the feast of his body. When will I get such a news? The day I get the news of his death, I’ll celebrate a grand feast.
If he sleeps in a hut made of hay, I wish someone puts fire to his hut. I’ll be the happiest person seeing Shikhi die by burning in that fire. I’ll dance with joy!
If he gets alms, I wish it has poison in it. On eating that poisonous food, his body and eyes shall strain. Then he shall start rolling on the ground due to unbearable pain. Only then will I get peace!
If he stands for meditation at night in the graveyard of some village, I wish some vampire spots him. Looking at his delicate body, the vampire shall get tempted to kill him or eat him up alive! That’s it, his existence on earth should vanish and I will never have to see his face again. If he is standing in some empty house and there is an extremely poisonous black snake hidden, then it should see Shikhi and bite him on his feet. Then my work will be done; I won’t have to kill him.’
She was sitting and laughing alone as if the snake had bitten Shikhi, and he was dying in front of her.
The door of her room opened. Indrasharma was standing outside. Jalini stood up. She was starring at the floor.
Indrasharma’s tone was filled with bitterness, “If you cannot see your innocent and virtuous son’s face, then even I don’t want to see my culprit daughter’s face.”
“But where should I go?”
“Wherever you want to go!”
Jalini got numb. She began to cry and moan.
***
Pingal got Brahmadutt back to the palace in the carriage. As soon as he entered the palace, he covered his face with his palms and began to cry loudly. He collapsed on the throne near him. Pingal sat beside him.
“Now, I will not be able to live in this palace, Pingal!” Brahmadutt said to Pingal in a sad tone while keeping his hands on his shoulder.
“Every section of this palace will remind me of Shikhi! My life is meaningless without him! What should I do now? I will not be able to go to the king’s court. Pingal, please request the king that I will not be coming to the court henceforth. I will not be able to tolerate this loneliness. Pingal, my attachment is very strong. This attachment of mine will not let me live in peace. I will not be able to sleep peacefully. Truly, this separation from loved ones is really tough. Now, what will I even do with this palace? What should I do with this glory? For whom am I supposed to live now? Pingal, you also go back to your house. Don’t be sad because of me!”
Pingal was crying! He had lost the strength to console Brahmadutt!
Still he sobbed and said, “Don’t feel so hopeless. Shikhi is still in our town. We will visit him everyday and make ourselves fortune.”
“But in a few days, he will leave our town and go elsewhere. Acharyaji follows the principle of not staying in one place for more than a month.”
“Its okay, we will go wherever they go. We will go in a carriage or on a horse, but we will visit them for sure.”
“No, I don’t think this is appropriate! If we go everyday, then there will be disturbance in their spiritual practice. Pingal, we shouldn’t disturb them.”
“Okay we will not go everyday. We will go only till the time you don’t feel good. Later, we won’t go.”
Brahmadutt kept quiet. He closed his eyes and imagined the scenario of the park where bald Monk Shikhi was seated.
He opened his eyes and said, “Pingal, after Monk Shikhi got his head shaved off, didn’t he look like a little monk? His charm and the glow on his face had increased, hadn’t it? What do you think?”
“Ofcourse! His face was glowing like the moon and shining like the rising sun.”
Then both remained silent. A few moments passed.
Brahmadutt broke the silence and said, “Pingal, I want to tell you one thing. Keep it to yourself only. Will you?”
“Sure! I will keep it to myself! Feel free and say it.”
“I am not going to live long now.”
“Please don’t say this! Don’t even think like this! Till Monk Shikhi does not become an Acharya, you have to live.”
