A year later, Jinabhai obtained permission from his parents to become a sadhu. Mother Puribai prepared kansar (sweetmeat), and served her son for the last time. Applying the auspicious red mark (kumkum) to his forehead, and wishing him fulfilment in his new life, she gave him a proud but sorrowful send off. On the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Kartik in the year V. S. 1965, Jinabhai left home. He set out for Junagadh. On the way he was accompanied by his elder brother Kamalshibhai. The very next day, they met Swami Krishnacharandasji.
On the full moon day of the month of Kartik, in the year V. S. 1965, Jinabhai was initiated into the Parshad diksha by Krishnacharandas Swami. He was then given the name Jina Bhagat. Jina Bhagat immediately took on various duties at the temple.
In those days the parshads were entrusted with the task of grazing the cows and buffalos of the temple. Jina Bhagat would go along with the other parshads to the borders of Mount Girnar to graze the cattle. While the cattle were browsing, Jina Bhagat sang bhajans and memorized verses of Swamini Vatu.
In the evening Jina Bhagat would return to the temple along with the herd of cattle. On the way back he would cut out babul-sticks used for brushing teeth in the morning, for all three hundred saints in the temple.
Besides this, every morning, he cleaned the cowsheds and collected cow-dung. He would then make little flat cakes out of the dung and placed them in the sun to dry. They were then used for fuel.
In spite of fatigue from the day's work Jina Bhagat always attended the religious meetings every evening. He would sing bhajans and chant the Swaminarayan mantra. Then he would stay and listen to the discourses till late night. Next morning he would get up at four in the morning to serve his guru once again. Such was his daily routine.
He earned the blessings of Swami Krishnacharandas by serving him devoutly for six months. We too should please the saints by serving them faithfully.