Echo of Rajasthan hc order
Mysuru :
Over 2,000 members of Jain community comprising all the four sub-sects — Sthanakvasi, Moortipujak, Terapanth and Digambar Jain Samaj — took out a huge rally in the city here today to protest against the Aug. 10 ruling of the Rajasthan High Court that Sallekhana or Santhara, a religious practice of Jains, is illegal and a punishable offence.
The agitating members said that the order had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the entire Jain community and it should be reconsidered. They noted that the Sallekhana could not be termed as an act of suicide nor it can be construed as ‘death by willingness.’ Sallekhana was a vow which was accepted by mendicants or householders according to their own wish as per the strength of the body and in tune with religious scriptures. It was a practice that was being followed since time immemorial.
Leaders of Jain community stated that as per Article 25 of the Constitution, to accept any religion, to profess it and or to propagate, is the fundamental right of any Indian citizen. Hence, the act of performing Sallekhana should be accepted as Fundamental Right of Jains.
Earlier in the morning, the members of the Jain community — men dressed in white and women representing various Mahila Mandalis attired in different hues — assembled at the Mysore Palace North Gate from where the rally commenced. Later, it passed through Ashoka Road, Mahaveer Circle, Gandhi Square, Shivarampet, D. Devaraj Urs Road and reached Deputy Commissioner’s Office to present a memorandum.
In the memorandum, they urged the Deputy Commissioner to apprise the authorities concerned to see that the Jains were not barred from following their religious rights.
The Terapanth Jain Muni Gyanendramuniji Maharaj said in his discourse that members of the Jain community would not commit violence on themselves or on others by taking recourse to Sallekhana. It was a practice to purify one’s soul and for destroying the ‘karmas.’ Prohibiting it would amount to denial of the fundamental rights allowed in the Constitution.
Calling upon the members of the community to unite on this score, he said the community would challenge it legally. Munishree Sujethakumar Maharaj was also present.
Jains regard Sallekhana or Santhara to be the highest form of passage or death and in a way not the same as suicide. It is done in full consciousness and in peace and it does require that the practitioner fast unto death. Jain texts say it is the ultimate route to attaining Moksha and breaking free from the whirlpool of life and death. The vow of Sallekhana or Santhara is taken when one feels that one’s life has served its purpose. The rationale behind Sallekhana comes from the Jain belief in karma, rebirth, asceticism and spiritual purification.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday – August 27th, 2015