8.
Jina, the Parshad
And the day arrived when Jina was to leave home
to become a sadhu in Junagadh. Puribai fed Jina with kansar (a sweet
dish) for the last time and permitted him to become a parshad (first
initiation into monastic order). Before he left she applied kumkum
on his forehead and sent Kamalsibhai to take him to Junagadh. There,
Swami Krishnacharandasji gave him parshad diksha on the full moon
day of Kartik Samvat 1965 (1909). Jinabhai became Jina Bhagat.
Seva at Junagadh Mandir
As diligent as ever, Jina Bhagat performed menial services in the
mandir. He would get up early in the morning, clean the cow-sheds,
draw water for sadhus, attend to his prayers; all this in addition
to serving his guru and other sadhus. Then he used to take the cows
for grazing to the border of Mt. Girnar. While they were grazing he
would sing bhajans and memorise verses from Swamini Vatu. And on returning
he would cut 300 babul sticks which were used as tooth brushes by
the sadhus. In the evening he would attend the religious discourses
and sing bhajans.
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