Hyderabad: In a significant life choice, Yogitha Surana, the 19-year-old daughter of a Chittor-based Rajasthani Jain Marwadi Jeweller, is set to become a nun in Hyderabad.
The ceremonial function, organized by Jain Samaj, will take place in the coming week.
Yogitha, a graduate, decided to renounce worldly comforts and embark on a life of austerity.
In a press conference with her parents and sisters here on Friday, she expressed her desire to detach herself from desires and pursue a path leading to moksha.
The transformative ceremony, known as Diksha Mahotsav, will span from January 13 to 16, organized under the Sri Vardhman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, Greater Hyderabad, and Sri Jain Ratna Hithoshi Shravak Sangh, Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The elaborate process involves a religious procession and rituals symbolizing the transition from a normal human being to a nun.
Yogitha's decision received initial shock from her parents, but they eventually understood and supported her choice. In the Jain tradition, it is essential for both parents to willingly accept their child's decision to become a nun.
Jain monks and nuns lead a stringent life, refraining from bathing throughout their lives to conserve water. The ceremony includes the ritual of Kaya klesh, where every hair strand is plucked out, and they live separated from their families, considering the world as their family.
Yogitha, who discontinued her degree, speaks Hindi, Telugu, and English. Her parents, Padamraj and Sapna Surana, expressed pride in Yogitha's decision, emphasizing their support for her pursuit of inner peace over worldly possessions.
The press conference included insights into Jainism's spiritual goals, emphasizing liberation from the cycle of rebirth and achieving moksha. Yogitha's decision was hailed as a significant step in the Jain community.