Vile Parle, Mumbai was host to a landmark spiritual event of the year marking the culmination of 1008 ayambil fasts by Param Saumyaji Mahasatiji, a disciple of Param Gurudev Shree Namramuni Maharaj Saheb, and the Diksha Mahotsav ceremony of 21 yr-old Mumukshu Yashvi didi Nandu, who gave up materialistic pleasures and adopted the path of renunciation.
Devotees from across India and overseas came together to celebrate a monumental feat in the history of Jain community where a Jain Sadhviji, Param Saumyaji Mahasatiji, completed 1008 arduous Ayambil fasts – a special fast where she consumed only boiled pulses and lentils without any fruits, vegetables, ghee, oil, spices and milk products. She was honoured as a World Record holder, being the very first Jain Sadhviji to achieve this extraordinary feat in the last 500 years of Sthanakwasi Jain tradition.
The culmination of the fast took place through a very special Tapotsav Kalash which was circulated across 20 countries, and 1,00,000+ families contributed granules of sugar to that kalash, including the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Cabinet Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Cabinet Minister Shri Smriti Irani, leading businessmen and political leaders. Sugar water prepared from the collective sugar was then used to end the historic fast. Sanghpati Shri Arhan Manan Parag Shah and family, along with lucky draw winners Shri Damani family and Shri Kariya family were blessed with the opportunity to offer this sugar water to Param Mahasatiji in the alms bowl and end her fast. Devotees honoured her with the title ‘Mahatapasvi’ and offered her a shawl as a small token of respect.
The celebration took place at the Malini Kishor Sanghavi Shantiprabha Hall, Ritumbhara College in Juhu, Vile Parle, and was organized by Shri Vardhaman Sthanakwasi Jain Sangh, Vile Parle. In a day and age where materialism and consumerism is ever-rising, a young mechanical engineer from Mumbai’s renowned D. J. Sanghavi College of Engineering, chose to take the path less taken. Mumukshu Yashvi didi Nandu accepted the 5 great vows of Jain Diksha and was bestowed with a new name Param Nempriyaji Mahasatiji after an elaborate traditional diksha ceremony.
Shri CV Shah and family were blessed with the final rituals of the mumukshu and the shobhayatra procession began from their house. Various families were then blessed with the opportunities of Diksharth Charan Pujan Vidhi, Diksharthi Shrifal Arpan, Diksharthi Vijay Tilak, Nutan Dikshit Naamkaran and Nutan Dkshit Upkaran Arpan Vidhi. Donations worth Rs. 2 Cr were contributed towards medical aid at Shri Vile Parle Sthanakwasi Jain Sangh.
Leading spiritual leaders of different faiths were present to shower their blessings and best wishes on this occasion, including Jain Acharya Shri Lokeshmuniji, General Secretary of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Shri Parmanand Saraswatiji, and Chairman of Buddhist Cultural Foundation India, Bhante Dipankar Sumedhoji.
