Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.t1.24

c14.t1.24

The renunciation ceremony (*nikkhamanasaṅkāra*) was held with great pomp and show in ancient India Great enthusiasm was displayed on such occasions and even kings took active part in the ceremony and encouraged people to embrace asceticism. We hear of an announcement made by Kanha Vāsudeva that if any king, heir-apparent, queen, prince, chief (*īsara*), knight (*talavara*), head of a family (*koḍumbiya*), headman of a village (*mādambiya*), rich men (*ibbha*), foremen of guilds (*seṭṭhi*), commander-in-chief and the leader of caravan would join the monastic order, he would look after his family and relations who might be left behind¹⁶ *Pavvajā* or “leaving the world, adopting the ascetic life” was conferred near a lotus-pond or a caitya shrine with a sikhara. An auspicious day under a favourable planet was selected except caturthī and aṣṭamī which were avoided¹⁷. An essential condition for the admission into the monastic order was securing the permission of the parents or the guardians. Frequently we hear of gifts of a male or a female disciple (sissabhikkham, sissinībhikkham) offered to the teather by the guardian of a person who wished to join the order¹⁸.