Gujrati couple donated Rs.200 crores for ‘this’ reason. Click to know more

In a remarkable display of spiritual devotion, Bhavesh Bhandari, a prosperous businessman from Himmatnagar, Gujarat, and his wife have chosen to embark on a journey of monkhood, relinquishing their vast wealth valued at nearly ₹200 crore. 

This decision, motivated by their deep-rooted faith in Jainism, follows in the footsteps of their children, who embraced monkhood in 2022. The Bhandari family’s act of renunciation occurred during a solemn ceremony held in February, where they symbolically divested themselves of all material possessions, including their mobile phones and air conditioners.

On April 22, Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife will formally commit to a life of asceticism, marking the culmination of their spiritual transformation. This solemn pledge entails severing all familial ties and embracing a nomadic existence, sustained solely by alms and devoid of material comforts. Clad in only two white garments and armed with a bowl for alms and a “rajoharan,” a white broom used to brush insects away without causing harm, the couple will traverse the length and breadth of India, following the path of non-violence and simplicity laid out by Jain teachings.

The Bhandari couple’s decision to forsake their wealth and worldly attachments has drawn widespread attention and admiration across Gujarat. 

Their exemplary act mirrors the life choices of notable figures like Bhavaralal Jain, who relinquished immense wealth to pursue a life of spiritual austerity. Bhavaralal Jain, renowned for his pioneering contributions to India’s micro-irrigation system, exemplifies the ethos of Jainism, emphasizing self-restraint and detachment from material possessions.

Accompanied by 35 other individuals, the Bhandari family embarked on a poignant four-kilometer procession, symbolizing their transition from opulence to renunciation. Videos capturing the procession depict the couple atop a chariot, clad in regal attire, embodying the transformational journey they have undertaken.

The Bhandaris’ spiritual odyssey underscores the profound influence of Jain principles on their lives, particularly inspired by their children’s earlier decisions to embrace monkhood. Their daughter and son, aged 19 and 16 respectively, set a precedent for the family’s spiritual awakening, embracing the rigorous disciplines of Jain monkhood. 

While their decision may appear radical to some, it resonates deeply with the core tenets of Jainism, advocating non-violence, asceticism, and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

In a poignant parallel, a wealthy diamond merchant and his wife in Gujarat also embraced monkhood, inspired by their son’s earlier initiation into monkhood at the age of 12. Symbolically, akin to their son’s initiation ceremony where he rode a Ferrari, the couple embarked on their spiritual journey driving a Jaguar, signifying their transition from material opulence to spiritual enlightenment.