Former model-turned-Sadhvi Harsha Richhariya, now known as Sadhvi Harshanand Giri, has hit back at saints who have repeatedly criticised her choice of clothing, makeup and decision to live with her parents.
In a video posted on social media on Friday, Harshanand questioned the criticism and said some saints had started behaving more like “mothers-in-law” than spiritual leaders.
“Who are these saints who dislike everything I do? Whether I eat, dress, live somewhere, meet someone or go out, they have a problem with everything. What kind of saints are these who have become more like my mother-in-law than saints and sulk over every little thing?” she said.
‘If they want me to leave my parents, guarantee my safety’
Harshanand said she did not understand where she was expected to live when concerns over women’s safety remained so serious.
“In a society where even a two-month-old girl is not safe, and we keep hearing about rape and other crimes from everywhere, tell me, where should I live? Where am I safe?” she said.
She challenged the saints who have asked her not to stay with her family to guarantee her safety.
“If those saints who are saying that I should not live with my family can give me a 100% guarantee of my safety, I will go and live in their ashram,” she said.
‘Since when did saints start getting upset over small things?’
Harshanand also questioned why some saints were reacting strongly to what she described as minor issues.
“I don’t understand when saints started getting offended by such small things. Their anger should be like a bubble in water—it should disappear quickly. A saint should have no attachment, hatred or jealousy. Saints should have only love. They should be able to let even the biggest things go,” she said.
‘I have only two options until my ashram is built’
Recalling her interaction with the media at her guru’s ashram in Ujjain on Guru Purnima, Harshanand said she was asked why she continued to live with her parents despite taking initiation.
“Some saints have questioned what kind of sadhvi I am because I live with my parents. They say a sadhvi should have no attachment or relationships and should not live with her family,” she said.
Responding to the criticism, she said those questioning her already had large ashrams of their own.
“I told them that the saints who have raised these objections have built big ashrams and are living there. So, when my ashram is built, I will live there too. But until then, where should I stay?” she said.
She added that she currently had only two options.
“Either I can stay at my guruji’s ashram, but how long can I stay there? I don’t like causing inconvenience to anyone because of me. The second option is my parents’ home, where I feel the safest. What third option do I have?” she asked.
Controversy intensified after Guru Purnima remarks
The latest controversy follows remarks Harshanand made during an interaction with the media at the Mauni Tirth Ashram in Ujjain on Guru Purnima two days ago.
She had raised questions about some saints and the functioning of ashrams, alleging serious concerns regarding the safety of women living in such establishments.
She had also claimed that some saints secretly visit beauty parlours, questioning the alleged gap between their public image and private conduct.
Her remarks drew objections from a section of the saint community.
Questions over her lifestyle continued after initiation
Harsha Richhariya took initiation into the monastic order on April 18, 2026, at the Mauni Tirth Ashram in Ujjain under Mahamandaleshwar Sumananand. As part of the initiation, she also performed pind daan and later appeared delivering discourses from the Vyaspeeth.
However, even after taking initiation, some saints continued to publicly question her use of makeup, hair colouring and decision to live with her family.
Harshanand has now responded sharply to those criticisms through her social media video.
