Bhavesh Bhandari, along with his wife, says their decision was influenced by the path chosen by their children, who had embraced monkhood in 2022 at the ages of 19 and 16.A Jain couple from Gujarat has donated all their wealth, nearly Rs 200 crore, and embraced monkhood. Afetr giving away all their possessions during a ceremony in February, and the couple will officially commit to a life of renunciation at an event later this month.
Bhavesh Bhandari, along with his wife, says their decision was influenced by the path chosen by their children, who had embraced monkhood in 2022 at the ages of 19 and 16.
On April 22, surrounded well-wishers and community members, the couple will officially embrace monkhood, severing all family ties and material attachments. From that moment forward, they will embark on a humble existence, relying solely on the generosity of others for sustenance. They will then walk barefoot across India and survive only on alms.
Their possessions will be reduced to the bare essentials: 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, symbolising their commitment to non-violence.
The Bhandari couple, accompanied by 35 others, embarked on a procession spanning four kilometers where they gave away their possessions. Videos from the event show the couple in their finery atop a chariot.
When his children embraced monkhood, in 2021, Bhavesh Bhandari had said: “My children were raised amidst the teachings of monks and had the opportunity to spend time with them during the lockdown, which inspired their decision to become monks.”
The decision of the Bhandari family, known for their wealth and influence, has captured the attention of the entire state. Their journey mirrors the choices made by a select few, such as Bhavaralal Jain, who opted for a life of restraint despite their immense fortunes. Bhavaralal Jain’s contributions to India’s agricultural sector are well-documented, underscoring the transformative power of personal choices aligned with spiritual values.
In Jainism, undertaking ‘diksha’ represents a profound commitment to a life devoid of material comforts, relying solely on alms and traversing the country barefoot. This spiritual journey entails a complete detachment from worldly possessions and attachments.
Last year, a multi-millionaire diamond merchant and his wife from Gujarat decided to embark on this sacred path, following in the footsteps of their 12-year-old son who had embraced monkhood five years earlier. Interestingly, mirroring the opulence associated with their previous lifestyle, the couple chose to mark their initiation by driving a Jaguar, reminiscent of their son’s Ferrari during his diksha ceremony.
Similarly, in 2017, a wealthy couple from Madhya Pradesh captured headlines when they donated Rs 100 crore and bid farewell to their three-year-old daughter to pursue a life of monkhood. Sumit Rathore, aged 35, and his wife Anamika, aged 34, entrusted their daughter’s care to her grandparents before embarking on this transformative journey. However, their decision prompted scrutiny from the Gujarat State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), which sought assurances from the civil and police authorities regarding the measures taken to ensure the well-being and future of their daughter, who would now have no direct association with her parents.