Santhara

"Santhara" in Jainism is a means of destroying rebirth-influencing karma by withdrawing all physical and mental activities. During this practice, voluntary fasting until death is observed.

I did not go as a journalist. I went without a camera, with a friend who belonged to the Jain community to know more about and understand the circumstances that led to her death.

The 13-year-old Jain girl who undertook a lengthy fast and died two days after it ended was "well aware of the strength of her body," said the community's top leader in Hyderabad, claiming that "she fasted for eight days in 2014, 34 days in 2015 and 68 days this year."

A 13-year-old girl in Hyderabad died last week after fasting for 68 days as per Jain rituals during the holy period of 'Chaumasa'.

83-year-old Sohini Devi Duggar, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the throat last year, has opted to undertake the Jain practice of Santhara - a fast unto death - in West Bengal.

Thousands of people lined up in Bikaner today for the funeral procession of 82-year-old Badani Devi.

Badani Devi's weakness is self-induced, the result of her undertaking Santhara, the ancient Jain tradition of fasting unto death.

Hours after the Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court's decision which said Santhara - a ritual fast till death --- was akin to suicide and therefore punishable, an 82-year-old woman in Bikaner declared that she has undertaken Santhara.

For now, a tradition of Jains that sees themselves starving to death has been permitted by the Supreme Court.

A tradition of Jains starving themselves to death is an essential part of religious freedom, a petition in the Supreme Court has said today, as thousands of Jains are protesting the ancient ritual of "Santhara" being declared illegal.

Thousands of Jains protested across India on Monday for the legal right to take part in an ancient ritual of starving themselves to death.

"Santhara" in Jainism is a means of destroying rebirth-influencing karma by withdrawing all physical and mental activities. During this practice, voluntary fasting until death is observed.

I did not go as a journalist. I went without a camera, with a friend who belonged to the Jain community to know more about and understand the circumstances that led to her death.

The 13-year-old Jain girl who undertook a lengthy fast and died two days after it ended was "well aware of the strength of her body," said the community's top leader in Hyderabad, claiming that "she fasted for eight days in 2014, 34 days in 2015 and 68 days this year."

A 13-year-old girl in Hyderabad died last week after fasting for 68 days as per Jain rituals during the holy period of 'Chaumasa'.

83-year-old Sohini Devi Duggar, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the throat last year, has opted to undertake the Jain practice of Santhara - a fast unto death - in West Bengal.

Thousands of people lined up in Bikaner today for the funeral procession of 82-year-old Badani Devi.

Badani Devi's weakness is self-induced, the result of her undertaking Santhara, the ancient Jain tradition of fasting unto death.

Hours after the Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court's decision which said Santhara - a ritual fast till death --- was akin to suicide and therefore punishable, an 82-year-old woman in Bikaner declared that she has undertaken Santhara.

For now, a tradition of Jains that sees themselves starving to death has been permitted by the Supreme Court.

A tradition of Jains starving themselves to death is an essential part of religious freedom, a petition in the Supreme Court has said today, as thousands of Jains are protesting the ancient ritual of "Santhara" being declared illegal.

Thousands of Jains protested across India on Monday for the legal right to take part in an ancient ritual of starving themselves to death.