Sallekhana or Santhara practice in Jainism

17 OCTOBER 2025

Sallekhana or Santhara is a religious practice in Jainism that involves voluntarily fasting to death.
It is undertaken by a person, typically in old age or terminal illness, when they believe that their life has served its purpose and they are spiritually prepared to detach from physical body.
It is not suicide but a gradual process done with full awareness and consent.
The aim is liberation from worldly attachments, including the body, desires, and passions
It is practiced by both Jain monks/nuns and devout laypersons, usually in consultation with a spiritual teacher.
Only taken when death is imminent or life no longer supports spiritual practice, not as a way to escape worldly problems.
It is supported in Jain texts like Tattvartha Sutra, which refers to it as a virtuous death.
Chandragupta Maurya is said to have ended his life by practicing sallekhana.
According to Jain tradition, he renounced his throne, became a monk under the guidance of the Jain saint Bhadrabahu, and retired to the site of Chandragiri hill, in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka where he passed away after abstaining from food and water.
In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled Sallekhana illegal, equating it with suicide.
Later that year, the Supreme Court of India stayed the decision, recognizing the need to balance religious freedom with legal frameworks.