24 take diksha on Sabarmati riverfront

AHMEDABAD: They used luxury cars and lived in posh localities, topped exams or raised two generations of children, but on Thursday morning, they all stood together in white clothes with heads shaven. A total of 24 men and women, youth and children took diksha (renunciation orders) from Acharya Vijaymuktiprabhsuri at a major ceremony held at the Sabarmati riverfront.
The ‘mumukshu’ (ascetics to be) included 10 from Mumbai, six from Ahmedabad and one each from Anand, Pune, Ladol, Karad, Ujjain, Bengaluru, Vapi and Surat.The event, held at ‘Vairagya Rangotsav Mandap’ on the Riverfront, saw 10,000 guests from across India and 300-odd Jain sadhus and sadhvis.
The acharya, in his speech, said self-control comes from observing one’s thoughts, acts and speech. “One who leaves home becomes a sadhu but the one who leaves old thoughts become a shishya (disciple),” he said.
On Wednesday, those taking diksha were taken out in a procession in the Paldi area in great regalia, but at 5pm on Thursday, the rites began for them to shave their heads and don the white clothes of renunciants. They were given new identities by the acharya.
“Those who took diksha included six members of a single family from Mumbai including Sandeep Jain, his wife Sejal, daughter Labdhi and son Vajra. Jain’s mother and brother had taken diksha earlier,” said an organizer, adding that those renouncing social life range from a 14-year-old boy to an 88-year-old woman.
Several of the senior citizens who took diksha said that it was their long-cherished dream to spend the twilight of their lives studying religious scriptures and understanding dharma. Sushila Shah, who was given the new name Sadhvi Paramgunashree, was inspired by her daughter, who had become a sadhvi a few years ago.