Exploration of Santhara, the Jain Practice Involving Intentional Fasting Leading to Death
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In a heart-wrenching incident, a three-year-old girl, Viyana Jain, passed away following a Jain ritual known as Santhara, administered by a spiritual leader in Indore. The girl, the daughter of IT professionals Piyush and Varsha Jain, was battling a brain tumor since last December. Despite surgery and treatment, her condition deteriorated, leading her family to seek spiritual guidance. Sadly, on March 21, during a meeting with Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj, she was subjected to the Santhara vow with her parents' consent, only minutes after which she breathed her last.
What exactly is Santhara? A practice involving voluntary fasting unto death, Santhara - also known as Sallekhana - is a religious ritual in Jainism that aims at purifying the soul and attaining liberation. According to A Sundara, head of the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka, this practice is undertaken by Jains in extreme conditions like old age, incurable illness, or unusual circumstances like famine.
The Santhara vow is not a casual commitment. Based on A Sundara's research, Jain scriptures specify that it should be observed only when death is near or when an individual is unable to follow religious duties due to age, illness, or calamitous conditions. For instance, if poor eyesight inadvertently leads to harming living beings, the individual might choose Santhara to abide by the principle of ahimsa (non-violence).
The Jain text, Ratnakaranda Shravakachara by Samantabhadra, offers a clear picture of how Santhara should be experienced. The text suggests that the vow is taken to free the soul from the body but only during dire circumstances like natural disasters, old age, or an illness that cannot be cured.
Throughout the process, the practitioner must control their emotions, let go of all their possessions, mentally detach from loved ones, forgive everyone, ask for forgiveness, and feel remorseful for their wrongdoings. With a calm mindset, they must then focus on prayers and gradually refrain from consuming food and water, eventually leading to death.
While Santhara is deeply valued in Jainism, its legal status in India has been a subject of controversy. In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court deemed it illegal under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 309 (attempted suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), regarding it as a form of self-harm. In 2016, however, the Supreme Court stayed the court's ban, reinstating the practice under Article 25 protections for religious freedom.
This ruling was met with demonstrations from the Jain community, as the complexities surrounding Santhara continue to spur debates, especially when it comes to consent, parental authority, and child rights. The recent case of the three-year-old girl in Indore has further fueled discussions about whether or not minors can validly consent to such rituals and whether religious freedom can justifiably override a minor’s fundamental right to life. The ambiguity in the Supreme Court's 2016 ruling, which fails to specify Minors, leaves an open question in enforcement, potentially leading to fresh judicial scrutiny of how Santhara aligns with child protection laws.
- In Jainism, a religion that values health-and-wellness and abstaining from harming living beings, a ritual known as Santhara or Sallekhana is practiced in extreme medical-conditions like incurable illnesses, focusing on achieving a purified soul and liberation.
- According to Jain scriptures, individuals voluntarily taking the Santhara vow should only do so when death is near or when they are unable to follow religious duties due to age, illness, or calamitous conditions, reflecting a deep sense of remorse for their wrongdoings.
- The legal status of Santhara in India has been a subject of controversy, with the Rajasthan High Court deeming it illegal under the Indian Penal Code in 2015 but the Supreme Court reinstating the practice under Article 25 protections for religious freedom in 2016.
- The case of a three-year-old girl who passed away after taking the Santhara vow has sparked debates regarding child rights, parental authority, and whether minors can validly consent to such rituals, potentially leading to fresh judicial scrutiny of how Santhara aligns with child protection laws.
