How Prince Goyama became a Monk (Padhamo Vaggo, Antagadadasão)

Summary

This biographical story recounts the transformation of Prince Goyama (also known as Gautama or Goyama Swami). Born into royalty, Goyama enjoyed luxury and status. After witnessing suffering and impermanence, he felt a spiritual void. He encountered Mahāvīra and was struck by his serenity and philosophical depth. Goyama engaged him in dialogue and realised that his own learning was superficial. Despite his family’s objections, he renounced his royal life, distributed his wealth to the poor and joined Mahāvīra’s order as a monk. As a disciple he practised strict austerities and mastered the scriptures, eventually becoming Mahāvīra’s chief ganadhara (preceptor). The article emphasises that true nobility lies not in birth but in character, and that renunciation can be undertaken by anyone who recognises the transitory nature of worldly pleasures. It encourages readers, especially the young, to seek mentors who exemplify virtue and to pursue a life of meaning over comfort.