Headstrong child heiress, 8, rejects £50m diamond empire fortune to become a nun

19 January 2023 , 23:20

661     0

Devanshi has been abiding by a strict routine of three prayer sessions per day since she was a tot (Image: WION)

An eight-year-old girl turned down a $61 diamond fortune she was due to inherit in order to become a nun.

Devanshi Sanghvi was due to inherit diamond empire Sanghvi and Sons based in Surat, India - which as branches all over the world, and has an annual turnover of billions of rupees.

However, the headstrong youngster has chosen a life of religious solitude as she enters the Jain monkhood.

The family are already part of the ancient Jain faith, which practices love for all creatures, vegetarianism, and non-violence.

However her parents have told local media their daughter wants to dedicate her whole life to the religion as she plans to become a nun.

Mum's touching gesture to young son who died leaves Morrisons shopper in tears

According to the Times of India, Devanshi has been abiding by a strict routine of three prayer sessions per day since she was a tot.

Devanshi Sanghvi pictured with her mum (WION)

A family friend also claimed Devanshi once walked around 700km with other monks, embracing their way of life before she was officially brought into monkhood.

They told NDTV: "Devanshi showed religious inclination since she was a toddler. She has followed the ascetic life since a very young age."

The youngster has reportedly stared her journey to monkhood with a four-day 'diksha' ceremony, reports UniLad.

As part of the ceremony, Devanshi rode in a carriage pulled by an elephant in a spectacular grand entrance.

Members of the Jain community take part in a protest march against turning a sacred temple into a tourist place (AFP via Getty Images)

She went on to have her hair cut off and to trade in her luxury clothes for a white cotton outfit.

Jainism is practised by the most devout of followers - estimated to be around four million followers worldwide.

They follow strict rules, which include only eating a vegetarian diet, and take all steps to avoid injuring any living thing.

Some may even go as far as sweeping the ground in front of them to avoid stepping on small insects or covering their mouths to stop accidentally swallowing small bugs.

Nuns from the Jain community attend the ongoing Sparsh Mahotsav festival in Ahmedabad (AFP via Getty Images)

Even eating root vegetables is not allowed, since removing the root from the ground would kill the plant.

'I don't want children staying up late at weekends - I really need adult time'

The religion also dictates followers must always speak the truth, to not steal, to show sexual restraint, and to not become attached to worldly things.

As a result of Devanshi's decision, the family inheritance will likely be left to her younger sister Kavya, five.

Abigail O'Leary