Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-04-29 22:32:00
16 April 2024 01:22 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
An affluent Jain couple from Gujarat, India has donated nearly ₹ 200 crore and adopted monkhood, and now plans to set out on a journey for salvation.
Bhavesh Bhandari, and his wife, donated all their wealth during a ceremony in February, and will officially commit to a life of renunciation at an event later this month.
The businessman from Himmatnagar who was in the construction business follows in the footsteps of his 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son who adopted monkhood in 2022. People from their community say that Bhavesh and his wife were inspired by their children to "renounce their material attachments and join the ascetic path".
After taking the pledge on April 22, the couple will have to sever all family ties and won't be allowed to keep any 'materialistic objects'. They will then walk barefoot across India and survive only on alms.
They will be allowed to own only two white garments, a bowl for alms and a "rajoharan", a white broom Jain monks use to brush insects away from an area before they sit -- a mark of the path of non-violence they follow.
The decision by the Bhandari family, known for their immense wealth, has garnered attention across the state. They join a handful of others like Bhavaralal Jain, who had previously turned away from billions to lead a life of restraint. Bhavaralal Jain pioneered the micro-irrigation system in India.
The Bhandari couple, along with 35 others, took out a procession spanning four kilometres where they donated all their possessions, including their mobile phones and air conditioners. Videos of the procession show the couple atop a chariot dressed like royalty.
In Jainism, taking 'diksha' is a significant commitment where the individual lives without material comforts, surviving on alms and wandering barefoot across the country.
Last year, a multi-millionaire diamond merchant and his wife in Gujarat made a similar move, five years after their 12-year-old son adopted monkhood. Incidentally, just like their son, who rode a Ferrari for his diksha ceremony, the couple drove a Jaguar for their initiation.
Rip Winkle Tuesday, 16 April 2024 01:31 PM
Imagining our corrupt politicians following suit? That'll be when pigs fly, I guess.
Punchi Tuesday, 16 April 2024 01:49 PM
They could have contributed to our paradise to reduce our borrowings. We could have asked our monks to confer immediate salvation in return.
Rip Winkle Tuesday, 16 April 2024 07:37 PM
And the vast majority of the money would have ended up in our politicians pockets, just like the tsunami moneys ended up in Mahinda's.
Shera Tuesday, 16 April 2024 01:54 PM
Should have checked John 3:16 before giving up everything for nothing.
Chuck Tuesday, 16 April 2024 02:43 PM
Is that John Cena ir John Wick?
Ratnasuri Hadiranpola Tuesday, 16 April 2024 01:59 PM
Another example of converting the luxury life to become monkhood that needs only basic requirements like few clothes, minimum food ,basic medication and shelter. If 10% percent of world population follow this there will be huge saving of natural resources where the plannet too can be a better place to live
FredSnR Tuesday, 16 April 2024 02:01 PM
Now that's an extraordinary Indian, renouncing material wealth and embracing monkhood ,hope he is able to continue with his journey
Nut Crackers Tuesday, 16 April 2024 02:12 PM
Stupidity at its best.
A Tuesday, 16 April 2024 02:22 PM
Rajapakse family next in Sri Lanka
Mohamed Burhan Tuesday, 16 April 2024 03:17 PM
Greathuman beings! Surely people who will ve in heaven without doubt.
Jaffna Logic Tuesday, 16 April 2024 03:26 PM
Nature has allowed all of us to have only “one shot” to live , experience , and enjoy life as humans on this planet. Thus abandoning this only opportunity is insane !
Life doesnt end here Tuesday, 16 April 2024 07:29 PM
Enjoy this life and become an animal in the next to suffer, you Jaffna logic
Shastri Tuesday, 16 April 2024 04:02 PM
Previously the highest paid CEO in India of Reliance did the same and became a Jain monk
Devinda Tuesday, 16 April 2024 04:17 PM
Sadly a futile path in their journey for salvation.
Mary Thiagarajah Wednesday, 17 April 2024 06:22 AM
They understand that we don’t need lust in anything and live poor in heart ! A rich can live without lust in money and that doesn’t mean that we have to give everything to the poor and become poor.
Very strange religion Tuesday, 16 April 2024 05:38 PM
Jain religious philosophy is very extreme. No Jain is allowed to eat anything grown underground like onions and potatoes.
ram Tuesday, 16 April 2024 05:48 PM
did anyone catch the point that they converted to monkhood after their children became monks because parents lost hope in children and thought no point in being rich themself, this is a kind of Indian parenthood in a selfish way
An elderly person. Tuesday, 16 April 2024 06:05 PM
Utter madness. They could stay in the present state, reduce their extravagance spending , go and help the street children.Build hostels to these vagrants, send them for education, let them learn English and transform yours as well as their lives.You are not going to reach the heavens by your planned actions. Get matured.
Banda Tuesday, 16 April 2024 07:27 PM
Where's the dignity in begging
Sambo Tuesday, 16 April 2024 08:22 PM
Could our politicians follow suit?.
Gune Wednesday, 17 April 2024 02:52 AM
Not sure if this is the way to go. If they have such wealth, they can use it to good use to benefit so many poor people in India. Walking barefoot across the country is not going to help the needy, poor, street kids etc etc which India has in plentiful. It will be very interesting to see after two three years if they are still monks doing it.
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
Is the situation in Sri Lanka so grim that locals harbour hope that they coul
