I’m not a sadhvi: Spiritual speaker Jaya Kishori defends carrying Dior bag

Spiritual speaker and singer Jaya Kishori on Tuesday clapped back at critics who accused her of hypocrisy after a video showing her carrying a custom Christian Dior handbag worth Rs 2 lakh went viral. “Work hard, earn and don’t troll,” the 29-year-old said, adding she hadn’t renounced anything and was just a regular girl and not a sadhvi (nun).
Responding to claims that her Dior ‘Book Tote’ was made of leather, Kishori said she had never used leather in her life.
“The bag is a customised bag. There is no leather in it and customised means that you can get it made as per your wish. That is why my name is also written on it. I have never used leather, nor will I ever use it. Those who have come to my ‘katha’ know very well that I never say that everything is ‘moh maya’, don’t earn money or renounce everything. I have not renounced anything, so how can I tell you to do so?” she said.
Kishori went on to call herself a “normal girl”, adding that it was important to earn money to give oneself a good life.
“I have been clear from day one that I am not a saint, sadhu or sadhvi. I am a normal girl, I live in a normal house, I live with my family,” she said.
Kishori added that she works hard to earn money to lead a comfortable life and to give a good life to her family and friends. However, she said that she has some principles she lives with, which includes not using leather.
Saying that even kings wore jewellery, Kishori said the true essence of spirituality is knowing you can own things, but things shouldn’t own you.
“I was happy even when I didn’t have anything, and now when I can afford a few things by the grace of god, I’m equally happy. Owning things doesn’t make me happy, but it sure allows me to lead a comfortable life.”
The spiritual speaker pointed out that she has had the same bag for years and had even carried it to airports. Kishori said questions being raised over her bag are just “negative publicity”.
The 29-year-old said that her justification over the ongoing issue was just for the people who follow and believe in her.
“I won’t break your trust. I started my journey 22 years ago. I’m not so stupid that I would let go of the hard work that I have done in the last few years.”