Model-turned-ascetic Harsha Richharia alias Harshananad Giri is once again embroiled in controversy. On Guru Purnima in Ujjain, she targeted some saints, alleging that they constantly commented on her food, clothing, and living with her parents. Following this, Maharaj Anilanand, president of the Madhya Pradesh Sant Samiti, questioned her renunciation itself.
Are there any written rules regarding renunciation, why did Harsha say that big saints get manicures and pedicures; what is the whole controversy, let’s understand in MP Explainer
Question 1: What changes after taking sannyas (renunciation)?
Answer- In Hindu tradition, life is divided into four stages Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha (householder life), Vanaprastha (retired life), and Sannyas (renounced life).
- Brahmacharya, meaning the period of education; Grihastha, meaning the period of establishing a family; Vanaprastha, meaning the period of gradually distancing oneself from responsibilities; and then Sannyasa, meaning the final stage of completely renouncing worldly attachments.
- The traditional belief is that a person first fulfills family and other responsibilities, and then takes sannyasa. But today, this is not the only path. Many saints take sannyasa at a young age after receiving initiation from a guru. Therefore, taking sannyasa at the age of 30 is not considered unusual in itself.
- Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand Giri, who initiated Harsha, says that people associate renunciation only with saffron robes, whereas true renunciation is of the mind. According to him, ‘Just wearing saffron is not renunciation. True renunciation is living life with equanimity, abandoning attachment from the mind.’ To explain this, he gives the example of King Janak and says that detachment is possible not only by going to the forest but also while living a worldly life.
- Maharaj Anilanand, president of the Madhya Pradesh Sant Samiti, also believes that renunciation is not just about changing clothes. However, he says that a person who wears saffron and teaches religion and conduct to society should also follow the same decorum himself.
Harsha has been a model and host
Question 2: Can Harsha not live with her parents?
Answer- The most controversy regarding Harshanand Giri arose from this question. There are different opinions on this.
- Harsha’s guru, Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand Giri, says that taking sannyas (renunciation) does not mean ending the relationship with one’s parents. According to him, what kind of sannyas is it for a person who stops meeting his mother but goes around preaching religion to others? Some live in ashrams, some build huts, and some sannyasis spend their lives constantly traveling.
- Maharaj Anilanand’s stance also seemed changed compared to before. Earlier, he had called it a grave insult to tradition and demanded an investigation from the Akhara Parishad. But when we asked the same question again, he said, ‘There is no objection to living with parents. Parents are the first gurus.’ However, he also said that in the tradition Harsha is associated with, it is generally considered a tradition for a sannyasi to live in an ashram.
- Professor Govind Pandey of Sanskrit University, Bhopal, states that earlier, after taking sannyas (renunciation), a person would leave their old family life behind. He gives the example of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who maintained distance from his family after renunciation. However, the professor says that over time, this tradition is no longer as strict as it used to be. Now there are many examples where ascetics also remain in contact with their families.
Question 3: Why did Harsha say that even great saints get facials, manicures, and pedicures?
Answer- The controversy began when Harsha was asked why she still goes to a beauty parlor even after taking sannyas (renunciation).
- Harsha’s guru Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand Giri claims that he himself has seen many such Mahamandaleshwars, in whose ashrams daily **facials** are done, people called from Kerala stay there and perform regular **massages**, and about **6 hours** are spent on this **daily**. Even **physiotherapy** and **exercise trainers** are employed. His argument is that if the goal is spiritual practice, then such things cannot be considered against renunciation in themselves.
- When we put this matter before Maharaj Anilanand, he did not dismiss it. In response, he said that the names of the ashrams where this is happening should be revealed. He says that the life of a sannyasi gives a message of simplicity. He himself does not dye his white beard black even if he wanted to, so that the message of renunciation remains intact; for that, makeup or hair dyeing cannot be acceptable. However, he also admitted that there is no written rule for this.
Question 4: If there are no written rules and regulations, then what is the dispute about?
Answer- Harsha Richharia, the biggest reason for the dispute is that not all saints and akharas have the same opinion regarding sannyas (renunciation).
- Harsha took sannyas directly from his guru Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand Giri, rather than going through the formal process of an akhara. Sumananand says there is nothing wrong with this. According to him, sannyas can be taken from any qualified guru, not necessarily from an akhara.
- Maharaj Anilanand does not agree with this. He says that without the recognition of an akhara, sannyas is not accepted in the saint tradition. For this reason, he also questioned Sumananand’s authority.
- Anilanand believes that there is no clear rule written in Manusmriti or other scriptures about what process should be followed to take sannyas or how a sannyasi should live. This means the basis of the dispute is more about the beliefs of different akharas and guru-traditions, rather than any single written scriptural rule.
- This situation is even newer in the case of female ascetics. The system of 13 akharas for male ascetics is centuries old, but the separate ‘Dashnam Sanyasini Akhara’ for female ascetics was recognized in 2019. Therefore, many traditions and rules regarding female ascetics are still understood and applied in different ways.
Harshanand had handed over swords to 11 young women in a discourse
Question 5: What can happen next?
Answer- If a dispute arises regarding a sadhu or sadhvi, there is a defined process within the saint community to resolve it.
- First, the matter is discussed at the relevant guru level. If the matter is not resolved, the Akhara intervenes, and if necessary, the All India Akhara Parishad can also make a decision.
- This can be understood through the court process. Just as a case starts from the Lower Court and goes up to the High Court and Supreme Court, similarly here too, the Guru, Akhara, and finally the Akhara Parishad play a role.
- Currently, Harsha Richharia’s case has not reached this level. The dispute is currently limited to statements and social media. As of now, no official or final opinion of the saint community has come out regarding Harsha Richharia’s case.
