NEW TREND OF BECOMING A SADHVI: BRAND OF HAPPINESS UNDER THE GUISE OF RENUNCIATION

NEW TREND OF BECOMING A SADHVI: BRAND OF HAPPINESS UNDER THE GUISE OF RENUNCIATION

20-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------In childhood, we used to hear that a Sadhvi is one who has risen above worldly responsibilities, illusion, makeup, attraction and worldly responsibilities. One who dedicates herself to meditation, sadhana and purification of the soul. In today's world, when we hear the word 'Sadhvi', we don't imagine a meditative woman, but rather a 'modern Sadhvi', dressed in designer saffron clothes, giving sermons on a stage under bright lights, with thousands of followers on social media, emerges.

Now becoming a Sadhvi does not mean self-sacrifice, but is linked to a new lifestyle - in which there is a claim of renouncing worldly pleasures, but the enjoyment of happiness and popularity continues unabated. In the name of sacrifice, a safe branding is now done, in which a woman separates herself from home, family, marriage and social obligations and creates a spiritual aura – in which there is glitter, crowds, donations, trips to India and abroad, but there is no deep connection with self-control and self-reflection.

This trend is not a spiritual awakening, but a strategic escape – where women do not run away from the world, but give it a new shape in their own way, according to their convenience and expectations. They say – we have renounced everything, but in reality they renounced only that which troubled them – responsibility, expectation, accountability, and the burden of relationships. But they did not renounce their ‘I’, did not give up their ‘importance’.

Many so-called Sadhvis of today preach on public platforms that enjoyment is an illusion, household is a bond, the real form of a woman is one who is silent inside and surrendered outside. But when the same Sadhvi uploads videos on Instagram with filters, when she advertises every event of hers, when there are special passes and VIP gallery in her events – then the question arises whether this is spirituality or just a successful public relations plan?

In old times, becoming a Sadhvi was an act of courage. When a woman separated from the world, she had to face the society at every step. Today, when someone says – I am now a Sadhvi – every social criticism of her falls silent. Because we have assumed that a woman who wears saffron, keeps a veil on her head, and speaks in Sanskrit language – she is now a “goddess” and cannot be questioned.

The biggest crisis in this trend is that it is giving women a new escape route – the lane of self-conceit in the name of self-development. They neither want to take responsibility of the house, nor do they want to enter into competition in the workplace, nor do they want to face family, society or politics. They want a field where they are worshipped, but not scrutinised. Becoming a Sadhvi has become a medium of that ‘holy image’, which neither asks questions from anyone, nor forces to answer.

When an ordinary woman struggles with mental fatigue, she is silenced by saying “take rest”, “give yourself time”. But when someone says “I have now become a Sadhvi”, her fatigue is made into a spiritual epic. She gets a platform, gets media support, and a crowd of followers.

This Sadhvi now speaks on the mike – “I have renounced everything”, but what she got after renouncing – an ordinary housewife can never get. She gives sermons, but never talks about women’s rights, social justice, or economic equality, because these topics can make her self-created spiritual field uncomfortable. She does not clash with any government, does not speak on any inequality, she just keeps creating the cycle of meditation, mind, soul and life. This is what we can call “refined enjoyment”. This is enjoyment that is not directly obtained through material things, but through meditation, power, recognition and prestige. This is not lust, but definitely a hunger for fame. It does not involve adornment, but definitely a desire for self-display. It does not involve any personal responsibility, but definitely has a shadow of collective control.

Society, especially the male-dominated mindset, finds this role very acceptable. It does not want a woman who questions, thinks, and struggles. It wants an ‘obedient Sadhvi’, who remains silent under the cover of religion and remains the face of ‘peaceful spirituality’. In such a situation, becoming a Sadhvi becomes a safe platform – which not only protects the woman from her inner questions, but also fulfils the expectations of society.

That is why many of today’s Sadhvis are not actually ‘Tyaagini’, but women who are tired of life, broken by relationships, dissatisfied with society, and hide this dissatisfaction in the ‘search for God’. They want that no one should say anything to them, no one should have any expectations, but everyone should respect them, everyone should listen to them, everyone should believe them. This is not spirituality, it is 'social cleverness'.

In this modern spirituality, there is stage in place of sacrifice, limelight in place of penance, and digital glamour in place of peace. This is such a spirituality where salvation is still the goal, but the path is now decided through YouTube channels, Instagram live and online courses.

That is why we have to understand that sacrifice is not proved only by clothes, hair or speech. It is related to the mind, conduct and intention. As long as the process of becoming a Sadhvi remains not of self-introspection but of self-display, till then this Sadhvi culture will keep swallowing the real Sadhna.

This is not a protest, it is a humble request - if women become Sadhvis, then they should really do Sadhna. They should come down from the stage and speak on those topics which are important for the society. Society is afraid of it. They should not only adopt the path of meditation, but also of contemplation and movement. Because if every woman becomes silent after becoming a Sadhvi, then who will bring that change?

Sacrifice is not something that is visible, sacrifice is something that is done from within. And enjoyment does not come only through the senses, it also comes through praise, ego and identity.

Until we understand this new 'Sadhvi trend', spirituality will also remain an industry, a style, a marketing model - in which enjoyment will keep smiling on every stage wearing the clothes of renunciation.