A Jain couple in Gujarat donates their wealth of Rs 200 crore for monkhood

A procession carried out for Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife

Ahmedabad/Karnavati (Gujarat) – A Gujarat-based businessman and his wife have donated their lifetime earnings of Rs 200 crore and are all set to adopt monkhood. In February this year, Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife donated all their wealth during a ceremony. They decided to follow the spiritual path in the month of February itself. They decided to follow in the footsteps of their 16-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, who adopted monkhood in 2022.

Following their pledge on April 22, the couple will sever all familial ties and relinquish any material possessions. Subsequently, they will embark on a barefoot journey across India, sustaining themselves solely through alms. Notably, wherein individuals forsake material luxuries and modern technologies, sustain themselves solely on alms, and traverse the nation barefoot. Notably, in Jainism, undergoing ‘diksha’ entails a profound dedication, the couple can carry only 2 white clothes, a bowl for alms and ‘Rajarohana’. A type of broom called ‘Rajarohana’ is used to sweep the ground when sitting near a Jain monk. It is used to keep insects away from the seating area. A non-violent path is adopted from this.

Accompanied by 35 individuals in February, the Bhandari couple led a four-kilometre procession during which they donated all their belongings, from mobile phones to air conditioners. Footage from the event depicts the couple adorning regal attire atop a chariot, making donations.

Editorial Perspective

In Jain community, those who renounced material pleasures for the attainment of God are honoured by taking out processions, while among Hindus, those who take the path of spirituality are ridiculed by other Hindus-by-birth. Isn’t this example enough to know why the Hindus are in a bad state ?