Pathologist gives up career, comes to Simhastha

Indore: Dressed in a saffron kurta and dhoti, same colour robes and strings of rudraksh around her neck, Sadhvi Devya Giri is the first women president of women wing of the Juna akhara and first woman mahant of Lucknow's centuries old famous Mankameshwar Shiva temple.
Sitting in a small temporary tent on an uneven ground, which does not even allow to stand properly in Bhuki Mata area of the holy city Ujjain, the sadhvi, a young pathologist who chose a path of spirituality, has set an example for many who feel only people disappointed with their life opt for a religious path as an escape route to avoid problems of the temporal world.
Devya Giri, president, Mahila Sanyasni Shree Panch Dash Nam Juna Akhara said, "Women should fight for their rights despite limitations. How can one restrict entry of women in temples? A woman priest can perform an aarti and other religious rituals in the same or in a much better way a man does."
Woman saints have been associated with the akhara for ages, but did not hold key posts, but Giri fought to establish a separate female saint's wing under the aegis of the Juna akhara, one of largest akharas among the 13 akharas.
Giri said, "I was inclined towards religion since childhood. As an adult I realized there were not many women in this field. That's when I decided to be a part of this field which should be equal for both males and females."
The journey was not so peaceful for Giri, who had to fight with many top religious leaders for equality and appointment of women at key positions in the akhara.
"I faced major opposition as my gurus felt that I am trying to be over-smart because I am educated, but do not have basic knowledge of religion. I proved them wrong with my devotion and hard work and now leads the women akhara," said a smiling Giri sitting in her tent.
The 39-year-old sadhvi comes from a conservative family in Lucknow of Uttar Pradesh. She was most educated among her siblings and a likely earning member that the family looked towards to. But much against everyone's expectations, she chose spirituality in 2002 and became the head of Lucknow temple in 2008.
Giri works for cleanliness of rivers and is active among social and religious circles. Giri is forming a team of woman saints and volunteers and plans to clean Kshipra river during Simhastha.