Sadhvi Harshanand Giri, formerly known as model Harsha Richhariya, has claimed that many saints secretly call beauty parlour staff to their ashrams for manicures and pedicures. She said she does not do that herself, but believes that those who worship deities such as Lakshmi, Krishna and Narayan have every right to live well.
Speaking in Ujjain on Guru Purnima, Harshanand responded to criticism she has faced since taking sannyas. Some saints had accused her of wearing make-up, colouring her hair, using lipstick while giving discourses, and staying at her parents’ home despite becoming a sadhvi. She also alleged that many ashrams do not ensure women’s safety and claimed that some saints secretly use beauty parlour services.
Harshaanand honoring her Guru Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand on Guru Purnima
Either I stay in Guru ji’s ashram or in my own home
Harshaanand said- “Look, the saints who have commented, they themselves have big ashrams. They can stay there. Who is so pure in today’s date? Which saint, tell me a name, who will keep me in their ashram with 100% security. Say, ‘She is like my daughter. Nothing will happen to her throughout my life’? Let them take that guarantee. I will make their ashram my home.”
I think that until I have my own place, I will only have two options: either I stay in Guru ji’s ashram or with my parents at home, where I am safer. I don’t think there should be any objection to this.
Took Diksha in Ujjain
Sadhvi Harshanand Giri took initiation from Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand at Mauni Teerth Ashram in Ujjain on April 18 and embraced sannyas (renunciation). During the initiation, she also performed Pind Daan. After this, she was seen giving discourses from the Vyaspeeth (speaker’s platform) at various religious events as a Sadhvi.
