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Gujarat : A wealthy Jain couple from Gujarat, Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife, have made headlines by donating nearly ₹ 200 crore and adopting monkhood. Following the footsteps of their 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, who embraced monkhood in 2022, the couple decided to renounce their material possessions for a life of asceticism.
Hailing from Himmatnagar and previously in the construction business, Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife were inspired by their children to renounce their wealth and attachments to material possessions. Their children’s commitment to the ascetic path motivated the couple to follow suit.
During a ceremony held in February, the Bhandari couple donated all their wealth, and they are set to officially commit to monkhood at an event later this month, on April 22. Following their pledge, they will sever all family ties and relinquish all materialistic objects. They will walk barefoot across India, sustaining themselves solely on alms.
Upon their commitment to monkhood, Bhavesh and his wife will be permitted to possess only two white garments, a bowl for alms, and a “rajoharan,” a white broom used by Jain monks to brush insects away before they sit—an emblem of their commitment to non-violence.
The decision of the Bhandari family, known for their considerable wealth, is reminiscent of others who have chosen a life of restraint and renunciation. Bhavaralal Jain, a pioneer of India’s micro-irrigation system, is among those who have previously turned away from immense wealth to embrace monkhood.
In a symbolic gesture, the Bhandari couple, along with 35 others, took part in a procession spanning four kilometers where they donated all their possessions, including mobile phones and air conditioners. Videos of the procession depict the couple atop a chariot dressed in royal attire.
In Jainism, ‘diksha’ signifies a profound commitment where individuals live without material comforts, surviving on alms and walking barefoot across the country. The Bhandari couple’s decision to embrace this tradition has drawn attention and respect from the community.
This move echoes similar decisions made by others in the past. A wealthy diamond merchant and his wife in Gujarat, inspired by their son who adopted monkhood, also embraced asceticism. Similarly, a couple from Madhya Pradesh donated ₹ 100 crore and left their three-year-old daughter to become monks, highlighting the deep commitment to their spiritual journey.
