Jain Spirit 2005 09 No23

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 17

DOUBLE ME DIKSHA =
umbai recently bore witness to what might be the first diksha undertaken by twin sisters. The twenty-one year olds, Ms Heta Suresh Shah and Ms Hema Suresh Shah took their vows to renounce the material world on 27
February 2005. The initiation ceremony took place at Bhayandar, where the Shah family lives.
Heta and Hema wanted to take diksha two years ago but it was only this year that their father, Mr Suresh Shah, gave his consent for the ceremony to go ahead. Heta and Hema have two older sisters and one younger sister. Their eldest sister, Kajal, is married.
TWIN GIRLS IN MUMBAI RENOUNCE TOGETHER
The twins first considered taking diksha and becoming ascetics four years ago. This happened when they went for Chaturmas, a four-month rainy season retreat, under the guidance of their aunt, Pujya Sadhviji Saumyadarshita Maharaj. The retreat took place at Palitana and the spiritual environment inspired the sisters to thoughts of a contemplative way of life. As Heta explains, "We did not want to waste our human life, and so we decided to renounce the world to seek moksha (salvation). We have seen that humanity is always rushing to achieve material goals whilst very few think about the growth of their soul."
Standing left to right - Minal, Kajal & Megha, sitting left and right - Hema & Heta
Heta and Hema were tested rigorously by their guru aunt before they were permitted to take diksha. As well as being examined in Jain teachings, the girls had to prove that they had the personal characteristics necessary for the ascetic way of life and that they were inspired by strong spiritual impulses. Commenting on the joint initiation, Pujya Sadhviji said, "I firmly believe that both the sisters will live their ascetic lives with strong commitments and make their parents very proud."
Supplied by Nitin K Shat
The twins' father, Mr. Suresh Shah, is from Pamol, in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, and runs a hardware store in a Mumbai suburb. He said that at the tender age of fifteen Heta and Hema were more interested in religious activities than anything else. Heta was born twelve minutes before Hema on 24 March 1983. Their mother, Mrs. Surekhaben, had no idea at the time that she was going to give birth to twins and regarded them as a blessing.
Before taking diksha, the twins fulfilled a lifelong ambition to fly in an airplane, travelling in early February from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Such journeys will no longer be possible for Heta and Hema now that they have taken ascetic vows. •
to have made the Europe's 500 list. This is a great testament to our staff for their dedication and hard work."
accomplishments of 14 very remarkable ethnic high-achievers.
Edited from an article which appeared in Oshwal News, UK, February 2005.
Bharat also won 'Entrepreneur of the Year' at the GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, which celebrates the talents and achievements of Britain's many ethnic minority communities. A celebrity-studded audience of 1,200 packed into the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane to salute the
Among the guests and winners were Britain's most powerful civil servant, Suma Chakrabati, the country's only Asian permanent departmental secretary: Bend-it-Like Beckham film director Gurinder Chadha, and entrepreneurial genius Dinesh Dhamija, the founder of ebookers, the online travel agency.
photo supplied by Oshwal News
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