Nagpur: After graduating as an IT engineer, Riddhi found her true calling in life, becoming a sadhvi (female Jain ascetic) and becoming a ‘spiritual engineer’ of sorts by embracing a life of service to others. Now known as Vismitashree Mataji, she began her transformation and spiritual awakening at the age of 23 by renouncing all worldly pleasures. A native of Ahmedabad, she was drawn to the spiritual path since childhood. Born on 20 February 1987, Riddhi was brought up in a religious atmosphere by her parents Kirit Kumar Shah and Chetanaben Shah, who ran a Jain patshala. She was always a good student and completed her Engineering degree in Information Technology from Gujarat University. A friendly and sociable girl in college, she loved dance and music and was an active participant in social events and initiatives. As she delved deeper into the teachings of Jainism, Riddhi realised that her true purpose in life was to seek spiritual enlightenment. “Jain acharyas like Anekant Sagar, Virag Sagar and Prasanna Sagar were a great influence on me as I watched them closely on their path to enlightenment,” she says. It was only when her parents started looking for a groom for her that she told them about her plans to become a mataji. And on 4 July 2010, just 10 days after completing her BE, Riddhi received ‘deeksha’ from Acharya Viragsagar Maharaj in Udaipur (Rajasthan) and was renamed Vismitashree Mataji. “Becoming a sadhvi required a lot of discipline, sacrifice and dedication,” she says. Vismitashree walked barefoot across different states to share her knowledge. At the request of Jain advocate Nirmal Kumar Sethi, she visited Sri Lanka in 2017 to speak about Buddhism and Jainism, and later travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend a conference on inter-religious dialogue and the role of religion in promoting peace and harmony.
We also recently published the following articles:
Spiritual Awakening: Where to Start?
Meeting a Gnani living in the present is essential for spiritual awakening and enables one to be liberated from the ignorance that binds the soul. By following the guidance of an enlightened being, one can attain self-realization and ultimately liberation on the journey towards self-awakening.
Liv Morgan claims she is at the peak of her career and we can expect some great performances from her.
WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan talks about her decade-long journey and determination, and despite coming under fire for her romantic interest in Dominik Mysterio, she vows to continue her Liv Morgan Revenge Tour against Rhea Ripley.
Buddhist circuit promoting Uttar Pradesh’s historical and spiritual ties with Buddhism
The Bodhi March in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, led by Minister Jaiveer Singh, is a global promotion of the state’s Buddhist sites in line with the vision of attracting devotees of Lord Buddha from across the world.
