Santhara not suicide, but ideal way to moksha, says Jain guru
People perform Santhara when they feel that the purpose of their life is over. The idea is to wipe off old karmas and prevent the creation of new ones so that salvation is attained KAILASH CHANDRA JAIN, Head of Chowk Sarrafa Association
LUCKNOW: The Rajasthan high court’s order declaring Santhara illegal has not gone down well with the Jain community here.
Acharya Dayasagar ji Maharaj, a leading Jain dharma guru who is camping in Lucknow, on Tuesday expressed concerns over the court’s interference in the old Jain tradition.
“Jains believe in karma, spiritual purification, rebirth and asceticism. Like other religions, Jainism also considers suicide a wrong practice as it does not allow escape from the cycle of birth and re-birth. But Santhara cannot be considered suicide because it is performed with full knowledge and intent, while suicide is viewed as emotional and hasty,” he said.
“Santhara is considered as the ideal, non-violent and satisfying form of attaining moksha (salvation),” he added.
According to Jain scriptures, Santhara is considered the ultimate route to attaining moksha and breaking free from the vortex of life and death.
“Perhaps Jains are the only community which acknowledges the suffering of every living being. Santhara teaches an individual to endure in the process of starving. It also makes a person understand inherently painful and flawed nature,” the guru said.
Head of Chowk Sar rafa Association, Kailash Chandra Jain, said, “People perform Santhara when they feel that all purposes of their life have been fulfilled. The idea is to wipe off old karmas and prevent the creation of new ones so that salvation is attained,”
“But judges in the court without understanding the religious depth and purpose of the practice have passed the judgement,” he added. Siddharth Jain, media convenor, Avadh Prant Digambar Jain Mahsabha, said, “Every religion has shown path of attaining salvation and in Jainism we too have this path. I don’t know why the court has chosen to interfere in our religious matters.”