Detailed Explanation of Santhara, the Voluntary Fast Unto Death in Jainism
A Shocking Ritual Claims Another Life
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a three-year-old girl named Viyana Jain, battling a terminal illness, lost her life after being subjected to Santhara - a Jain death ritual. This tragic incident occurred under the guidance of a spiritual leader in Indore.
The devastated parents, Piyush and Varsha Jain, IT professionals, had initially sought medical treatment for their daughter's brain tumor, but unfortunately, surgery and subsequent treatments proved unsuccessful. In dire straits, they sought spiritual guidance, leading them to Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. On March 21, during a visit to this monk, Viyana wasadministered the Santhara vow, with her parents' consent, minutes before she took her last breath.
Understanding Santhara
Santhara, also known by the name Sallekhana, is a Jain practice involving the voluntary choice to end one's life through fasting. As per A Sundara, head of the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka, the ritual is a means to purify the soul and gain liberation in Jainism.
While taking Santhara is not a caprice, scriptures make it clear that it should only be observed when death is imminent or when an individual is too old, terminally ill, or facing extreme conditions such as famine. For instance, if one's deteriorating vision causes unintentional harm to living beings, they may opt for Santhara.
Practicing Santhara
An ancient Jain text, the Ratnakaranda Shravakachara by Samantabhadra, offers a detailed guide to the Santhara vow. This text dictates that the vow should aim to release the soul from the body but should only be taken during extreme situations, like a natural disaster, old age, or an incurable illness.
Anyone choosing Santhara must learn to control their emotions, relinquish all worldly possessions, detach emotionally from loved ones, forgive everyone, apologize for past transgressions, and then, with a steady mind, focus on prayers while gradually ceasing consumption of food and water until death.
The Controversy Surrounding Santhara
Despite being an accepted and prominent practice within Jainism, Santhara has been subject to legal challenges in India. In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled that Santhara should be viewed as illegal, classifying it as suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court argued that willfully ending one's life constitutes self-harm and cannot be justified as a religious practice.
However, this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court later that year, preserving the religious freedom to practice Santhara.
The ongoing debate
While Santhara is not currently outlawed, allowing it for minor children presents numerous ethical and legal predicaments. Minors cannot lawfully consent to such a practice, and this contentious issue has sparked discourse about maintaining a balance between religious liberty and the rights of children, particularly in the context of terminally ill minors[1][4]. The dilemma surrounding Santhara for adults continues to be a matter of ongoing legal deliberation.
Recent events, such as the death of the 3-year-old girl following Santhara initiation, underscore the complexities of this practice and the surrounding legal and moral issues. The Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission is now considering whether to pursue legal action against the parents and the spiritual leader involved[4]. Regardless, Santhara continues to be a sacred ritual in Jainism.
[1] -http://www.who.int/chp/hep/frontline/ojin/en/2007/sep_oct/feature1.html[2] -https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asiapacific-46754150[3] - https://scroll.in/article/908727/infants-and-suicide-the-traumatic-debate-over-jain-principle-of- santhara[4] -https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/child-rights-commission-to-probe-jain-monk-who-asked-3-year-old-sick-girl-s-parents-to-allow-her-death-2436298[5] -https://www.livemint.com/news/india/jain-ism-has-no-problem-with-euthanasia-supreme-court-told-1579137351855.html
Understanding the complexities of the situation, medical professionals, health-and-wellness advocates, and legal experts are raising concerns about the practice of Santhara, a Jain death ritual, which involves fasting till death as a means to purify the soul.
Given the condemnation of Santhara as suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code and the inability of minors to lawfully consent to such a practice, questions about religious liberty and the rights of children, especially terminally ill minors, are becoming increasingly pertinent.
