3-year-old girl ‘fasts unto death’; All about ‘Santhara’, the Jain religious practice

After being diagnosed with a brain tumour last December, a three-year-old girl from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, died while undergoing a religious ritual 'Santhara'. 

 

The girl's IT professional parents chose to lead her through the religious practice after getting advice from their spiritual leader, Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. The spiritual guidance was taken by the parents after the surgery and treatment failure.

 

The girl passed away on March 21. The Golden Book of World Records recorded her as the "youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara". 

 

After the child's death, the religious practice has been making news based on its legality. 

 

What is Santhara? 

 

Santhara, also known as Sallekhana, is a Jain religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by gradually reducing the intake of food and drinks. 

 

The term 'Sallekhana' comes from the words 'sat' meaning truth and 'lekhana' meaning emaciation. It symbolises the voluntary act of physical weakening. 

 

In Jainism, it is viewed as the thinning of human passions and the body. 

 

Not everyone can practice this religious ritual just because they want to end life. Jain scriptures provide clear instructions that 'Sallekhana' can only be practiced when a person is nearing death, suffering from old age, or incurable disease, or during times of famine. 

 

A 4th-century Jain text Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, written by Samantabhadra, explains the Santhara vow and its guidelines. 

 

Individuals who take the vow must master their emotions, renounce all possessions, and detach from the world's pleasures, and mentally from their loved ones. They should express remorse for their wrongdoings and must seek forgiveness from others. 

 

Is it legal in India? 

 

Jain scholars do not consider 'Santhara' as a suicide. It is not an act of passion, nor does it employ poison or any weapons. 

 

However, the legality of the religious practice was questioned in 2015 and the Rajasthan High Court ruled that the practice was illegal and punishable under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 309 (attempted suicide). 

 

The decision triggered protests in the Jain community and a petition was moved to the Supreme Court against the HC's ruling. In 2016, the SC stayed the decision and lifted the ban on 'Santhara'. 

India