Thread by @SolarisePravesh

Sallekhana | Santhara

A supplementary vow to the ethical code of conduct of #Jainism

The religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by gradually reducing the intake of food and liquids.

Long Thread
@vinayak_jain @prashantkawadia @vanitajain21
@JainMaggii @arpitjain__

It is viewed in Jainism as the thinning of human passions and the body for both Jain ascetics and householders.

Another means of destroying rebirth-influencing karma by withdrawing all physical and mental activities.

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@_bhaarratpati @ShikhaShaitan
@F_Corona_ @JAIN_24T

It is not considered as a suicide because it is not an act of passion, nor does it deploy poisons or weapons.

After the sallekhana vow, the ritual preparation and practice can extend into years.

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@shhhhcularism @MUKESHK51811242
@PanditRamJoshi @We_The_Saffron @MehHarshil

Sallekhana means to properly 'thin out', 'scour out' 'slender' the passions and the body through gradually abstaining from food/drink.

Also known as samlehna, santhara, samadhi-marana or sanyasana-marana

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@vikky_j02 @1AakashJain @JainGoldnMandir @Amit_2015aj @Tathastu1008

Sallekhana leads to Ahimsa (non-violence or non-injury), as a person observing Sallekhana subjugates the passions, which are the root cause of Himsa (injury or violence).

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@arpitjain__ @the_lost_girl92 @agm_re @F_Corona_

The Acharanga Sutra (c. 5th century BCE – c. 1st century BCE) describes the practice of Sallekhana.

The chamber for the ascetics to observe Sallekhana in earlier times.

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@Charmi_Ankit @eddiejain_ @BhayaniAtman @SarikaJainBJP

According to Jitendra Shah, the Director of L D Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad, an average of about 240 Jains practice Sallekhana each year in India. Most of them are not recorded or noticed.

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@True_Shrotriya @jinitjain08 @JainArihantknp

Statistically, Sallekhana is undertaken both by men and women of all economic classes and among the educationally forward Jains. It is observed more often by women than men.

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@adv_shasha @adv_chandnishah

A person who kills himself by means of poison, weapon etc, swayed by attachment, aversion or infatuation, commits suicide. But he who practices holy death is free from desire, anger and delusion. Hence Sallekhana is not suicide.

The soul is immortal

@arunbothra @PanditRamJoshi

There is debate about the practice from a right to life and a freedom of religious viewpoint. In 2015, the Rajasthan HC banned the practice, considering it a suicide. Later that year, the Supreme Court stayed the decision of the Rajasthan HC n lifted the ban on sallekhana.

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