MUMBAI, Nov. 25 -- In what is being presented as a historical moment in the Jain community, on Sunday, 59 Mumukshus - those trained for a period of time before they can be ordained as monks -- between the ages of 7 and 70 received the auspicious muhurat for a collective diksha, or consecration. It is for the first time that such a large group - some of them businessmen, chartered accountants and IT professionals -- participated in an initiation in Maharashtra. The ceremony, held in Borivali, was graced by Jain Acharyas Parampujya Somsoondersurisji, Shreyansprabhsurisji and Yogatilaksurisji, along with over 200 Shraman Bhagwants and 500 Shramani Bhagwants - male and female monks. Over 5,000 devotees gathered inside a 14,000 sq ft. pandal to witness the occasion. The five-day diksha ceremony will take place from February 4 to 8, 2026, organised by Adhyatma Parivar. The Mumukshus -- 18 men and 41 women -- are from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and the United States, all inspired by the spiritual guidance of Acharya Yogatilaksurisji. The event is sponsored by philanthropist Babulalji Mishrimal Bhansali. Alpesh Shah, media coordinator for the Jain community, explained the spiritual significance of diksha. "Taking diksha is like taking a vow to not kill any living being, be it an insect, worms or organisms found in water. The only way to achieve this is by living like a sadhu," he said. Monks' lives are simple and austere. "Once they take the vow, they do not even cook food but live on bhiksha from other households, which include non-Jains," said Shah. After the ceremony they will leave their homes and begin living in Upashrays (ashram for Jains) across India. "Irrespective of gender, they surrender all material objects. They are forbidden from wearing coloured clothes, footwear and technology. They even give up their names and take on the new names given to them. They cannot travel by train but have to walk barefoot. All of this is done with support from their families," he added. They are also prohibited from cutting their hair using a razor or scissors. "Instead they rub ashes on the scalp which detaches hair from the scalp. They are mentally prepared for this," said Shah. The youngest in the group is seven-year-old Tahtiben Sameerbhai Shah, and the eldest, 70-year-old stainless steel businessman Harkchandji Bachraju Bhansali - both will take diksha on February 4. Others include Harshilbhai Shah, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant; IT engineer Jainambhai Shah; and Sakshiben Baid, a PhD in Physics from Hinganghat, Nagpur. Two women from the USA - Sujataben Vohra, 66, and Sangeetaben Shah, 63, - will also embrace renunciation. All four members of a single family from Raipur, the youngest of whom is 14, will take diksha. The Mumukshus come from affluent families across India and abroad. Shah said the two ladies from the USA had originally travelled to attend a community event, but after meeting Guru Maharaj, chose to renounce worldly life. Acharya Yogatilaksurisji, who holds a revered place in the Jain community, has bestowed over 350 dikshas in the last decade and has over 100 disciples....