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The Independent
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Toddler's death in Indian religious fasting ritual sparks outrage and legal review
A child rights body in India is considering legal action after a three-year-old girl with a terminal brain tumour died during a religious fasting ritual, sparking outrage and ethical concerns. The incident took place in Indore city in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The minor was initiated into Santhara, an ancient and controversial Jain ritual of voluntary fasting unto death, on the advice of a religious leader. The state commission for the protection of child rights said they were reviewing the death and would soon decide whether to recommend prosecution of the parents or the monk involved, the Hindustan Times reported. Although the incident took place in late March, it came to public attention only after the Golden Book of World Records, described as an 'independent world records keeping authority', issued a certificate recognising the three-year-old as the 'youngest person to vow the Jain ritual Santhara'. According to local media, the child's parents, both IT professionals in their early 30s, turned to Rajesh Muni Maharaj, a Jain religious leader, after their daughter's health took a turn for the worse. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery in January. She reportedly improved initially, but her condition deteriorated again in March. Doctors then installed an artificial feeding tube to administer liquids to her on 21 March. That same day, the parents consulted Mr Maharaj, who advised them to opt for Santhara. 'Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the girl's end was near and she should be given the Santhara vow. This fast holds a lot of significance in Jainism. After thinking about it, we finally agreed,' her father told PTI news agency. 'We didn't go with the intention of getting her Santhara done, but Guruji said her condition was serious and suggested it. Everyone in the family agreed,' he told NDTV. 'We were watching her suffer. It was a very painful decision,' her mother said. 'I want my daughter to be happy in her next birth.' The ritual was reportedly done at the monk's ashram in Indore at 9.25pm the same day. The child died 40 minutes later, at 10.05pm. Santhara, also known as Sallekhana or Samadhi Maran, is a religious practice in Jainism where its adherents, generally the elderly or gravely ill, voluntarily give up food and water to embrace death through spiritual purification. Rooted in the religion's core principles of ahimsa, or non-violence, and detachment from the physical world, the practice is viewed by followers as a means to shed karmic bonds and attain liberation. Santhara has been the subject of considerable debate in India. In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled the practice illegal, equating it with suicide and making it punishable under the penal code. The decision sparked widespread protests from Jains, who argued that Santhara was a voluntary religious act distinct from suicide. The Supreme Court subsequently stayed the high court's decision, effectively allowing the practice to continue pending a further legal review. The application of Santhara to minors sparks particularly complex ethical and legal concerns. Legal experts point out that minors lack the capacity to make informed decisions about life and death. Further, the Indian constitution guarantees the right to life under Article 21. While Article 25 provides for freedom of religion, the right is subject to considerations of public order, morality and health. 'The decision of life and death of a minor is not even with the parents. This raises a serious legal and constitutional question: can Santhara be administered in the case of a minor who cannot legally or emotionally comprehend death? Article 25 grants freedom of religion but not above the law. Even religious practices cannot override a minor's legal right to life,' senior lawyer Ritesh Agarwal told NDTV. In his defence, NDTV reported, Mr Maharaj claimed the deceased child 'had religious understanding equivalent to that of a 50-year-old'. He has reportedly guided over 100 people into the Santhara vow so far. 'This is a religious practice meant for fully conscious adults, typically the elderly,' Omkar Singh, a member of the state child rights commission, told the Hindustan Times. 'The toddler could not have possibly consented. We are examining whether this constitutes a violation of child protection laws and will act accordingly.' A senior doctor familiar with the case told the newspaper that the child should have been in a hospital receiving palliative care. 'The child was already in critical condition. Santhara is an enormous physical and psychological ordeal even for an adult. A toddler cannot comprehend or withstand such an act,' the doctor said. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
Mint
04-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
What is Jain ritual Santhara? 3-year-old battling brain tumour dies after IT couple makes only child 'fast unto death'
Indore: A three-year-old girl named Viyana Jain—battling a brain tumour— passed away after her parents initiated her into the Jain religious practice of fasting unto death in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. What remained, was a Golden Book of World Records. Both the child's parents, Piyush Jain (35) and Varsha Jain (32) are IT professionals, and Vinaya was their only daughter. She passed away on March 21, according to her grieving parents, who acted on the advice of a spiritual leader, Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj, reported PTI. The incident recently came to light after the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate declaring the child, Viyana Jain, the "youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara." Parents display a certificate recognising their three-year-old daughter, named Viyana Jain, as a world record holder for undertaking 'Santhara', the Jain ritual of fasting unto death, issued by the Golden Book of World Records, in Indore. Viyana Jain was suffering from a terminal brain tumor Santhara—also known as Sallekhana or Samadhi Maran—is a solemn vow in Jainism, where one gradually gives up food and water to embrace death with spiritual detachment, believed to cleanse the soul of karma. Viyana was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2024, her parents said. After undergoing surgery in Mumbai that January, her condition initially showed signs of improvement but worsened again by March. When medical efforts failed to stabilise her, the family turned to spiritual guidance. 'Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the end was near, and she should be given the Santhara vow,' Piyush Jain told PTI. The ritual began at 9:25 p.m. on March 21 at the monk's ashram in Indore. Just 40 minutes later, at 10:05 p.m., Viyana passed away. In August 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled Santhara as illegal, calling it abetment of suicide under IPC Sections 306 and 309, and not an essential religious practice protected under Article 25 of the Constitution. The court also observed that the Right to Life under Article 21 does not include the right to die. The court directed state authorities to treat Santhara as a criminal offense and register cases accordingly. Later in 2015, however, Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan HC's verdict, recognising Santhara as a distinct religious tradition, acknowledging petitions from the Jain community. While Vinaya's parents described Santhara as a spiritual send-off for their daughter, the decision has sparked an outcry from child rights advocates and medical professionals. 'This is a ritual intended for fully aware adults, usually the elderly,' Omkar Singh of the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission told Hindustan Times. 'A toddler can't possibly give consent. We're investigating whether this violates child protection laws and will take appropriate action," Singh further added, HT reported. First Published: 4 May 2025, 05:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Row after 3-year-old sick girl made to 'fast unto death' by parents in MP
A three-year-old girl suffering from a terminal brain tumour died after her parents initiated her into Santhara, a centuries-old Jain ritual of fasting unto death, sparking outrage and renewed scrutiny over the practice - especially in the context of minors. The incident occurred on March 21 in Indore but drew attention this week after the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate declaring the child, Viyana Jain, the "youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara." Her parents, Piyush Jain (35) and Varsha Jain (32), both IT professionals, said they acted on the advice of a spiritual leader, Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. Santhara, also known as Sallekhana or Samadhi Maran, is a religious vow of voluntary death by gradually renouncing food and water, seen in Jainism as a way to purify the soul. Though upheld by the Supreme Court in 2015 after a Rajasthan High Court ruling had declared it a form of suicide, the legality and ethics of involving minors remain in murky territory. According to the parents, Viyana had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in December last year. After undergoing surgery in Mumbai in January, her condition briefly improved before deteriorating again in March. On March 21, after medical attempts to stabilize her failed, the family turned to spiritual intervention. 'Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the girl's end is near and she should be given the Santhara vow,' Piyush Jain said. 'This fast holds a lot of significance in Jainism. After thinking about it, we finally agreed.' Viyana's mother said their daughter had been unable to eat or drink for several days prior. 'We were watching her suffer. It was a very painful decision. I want my daughter to be happy in her next birth,' she said tearfully. The ceremony began at 9. 25 pm on March 21 at the monk's ashram in Indore. Viyana died at 10.05 pm, just 40 minutes after the initiation began. While the parents described the ritual as a spiritual farewell, child rights advocates and medical professionals have raised serious concerns. 'This is a religious practice meant for fully conscious adults, typically the elderly,' said Omkar Singh, a member of the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission. 'The toddler could not have possibly consented. We are examining whether this constitutes a violation of child protection laws and will act accordingly.' Medical experts have also criticized the decision. 'She should have been in a hospital receiving palliative care,' said a senior doctor familiar with the case. 'The child was already in critical condition. Santhara is an enormous physical and psychological ordeal even for an adult. A toddler cannot comprehend or withstand such an act.' Retired high court judge Abhay Jain Gohil acknowledged the complexity of the case. 'Every year hundreds of adults take the Santhara vow. It is legal. But this was a minor. If the girl was already dying, it may be hard to prosecute, but it still raises critical moral and legal questions.' The Golden Book of World Records' decision to honor the event with a certificate has also drawn backlash, with critics calling it 'deeply irresponsible' and an endorsement of non-consensual ritual involving children. As the debate intensifies, the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission has said it will soon decide whether to recommend legal action against the parents or the spiritual leader involved.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Three-Year-Old Dies After Parents Initiate Jain Fasting Ritual Following Brain Tumor Diagnosis
In a heartbreaking case from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, a three-year-old girl named Viyana Jain died on March 21 after her parents initiated her into the controversial Jain religious practice of Santhara—voluntary fasting until death—following advice from a spiritual leader. Viyana, diagnosed with a brain tumor in January, underwent surgery that initially improved her condition. However, when her health deteriorated in March, making eating and drinking difficult, her parents sought guidance from Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. "Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the girl's end was near and she should be given the Santhara vow," explained Piyush Jain, Viyana's father, who works as an IT professional along with his wife Varsha. "After thinking about it, we finally agreed to go for it." According to the father, Viyana passed away within minutes of completing the religious rituals. The Golden Book of World Records reportedly issued a certificate recognizing Viyana as "the youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara," a distinction her parents have publicly acknowledged. Varsha Jain expressed the emotional weight of their decision: "I cannot describe how difficult the decision was to make my daughter take the Santhara vow. My daughter was suffering a lot due to the brain tumor. It was very painful for me to see her in this condition." Through tears, she added, "I want my daughter to always be happy in her next birth." Santhara, also known as Sallekhana or Samadhi Maran in Jain terminology, involves gradually reducing food and water intake until death as a means of spiritual purification and worldly detachment. The practice remains legally controversial—in 2015, the Rajasthan High Court declared it punishable under sections related to abetment to suicide and attempted suicide, though the Supreme Court later stayed this order after petitions from Jain religious bodies. This case raises profound questions about religious practices, parental authority, and legal protections for children in situations where religious rituals intersect with medical conditions.
