sallekhana

Sallekhana, also known as santhara in many Jain communities, is a formal vow of slow, voluntary death through fasting. It is undertaken as a religious rite with the aim of purifying the soul, reducing karmic bondage, and achieving spiritual upliftment. Traditionally it is chosen when life has fulfilled its moral duties, often in old age or in the face of incurable illness; the decision is made with spiritual guidance and the consent of family members.

The practice involves a sequence of religious observances, including confession, meditation, and daily rituals such as samayika and pratikraman. Physically, it consists of gradually reducing intake of food and liquids over an extended period, sometimes lasting weeks or months, until death. In some communities, water is reduced progressively; in others, intake is discontinued entirely at the final stage.

Sallekhana is rooted in Jain dharma and is observed by both Digambara and Śvētāmbara communities, though there are variations in custom. It is described as a non-violent, self-regulated path and is not framed as suicide within Jain teachings; rather, it is presented as a deliberate act of spiritual discipline and non-attachment.

In contemporary debates, sallekhana is the subject of ethical and legal attention in various jurisdictions, with disputes about its classification and the protection of religious freedom and the right to life. It remains a rare but enduring practice within Jainism, illustrating a distinctive approach to renunciation, mortality, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation.