Bhopal:
At an age when most of the children are starting to speak in the whole sentences and are searching for childhood happiness, ‘Santhara’ to three -year -old Viana Jain from Indore – the religious practice of voluntary fasting for the death of Jain religious fasting – after diagnosing a terminal brain tumor.
This was followed by a mixture of religious rituals, spiritual beliefs and an irreversible decision – a one that may have slipped under the radar of the law.
Piyush and Varsha Jain, Varsha Jain, the only children of IT professionals, were detected a brain tumor in December 2024. After undergoing treatment in Mumbai – including surgery – his condition allegedly deteriorated. By March this year, when all Asha was lost, the family, the religious followers of Jainism turned into spiritual guidance.
On 21 March, during the visit of spiritual leader Rajesh Muni Maharaj in Indore, the girl was consecrated with a religious fast, mantras and rituals of “Santhara” – “Santhara” – “Santhara”.
His mother, Varsha Jain said, “Gurudev inspired us and explained everything. With our consent, ‘Santhara’ was done, and 10 minutes later, Viana died.”
It was reportedly died in such a short time because a three -year -old child was already very unhealthy.
His father, Piyush Jain said, “We did not go with the intention of ‘Santhara’ him, but Guruji said that his situation was serious and he suggested. Everyone in the family agreed.”
The incident came out recently after being recorded as the youngest person to take a pledge of ‘Santhara’ in the Golden Book of World Records.
Whose decision?
But now the question being asked is: Can at the age of three really understand what death does? And, if not, who is the right to make that option for him?
Rajesh Muni Maharaj claimed, “Viana had religious understanding at the age of 50,” Rajesh Muni Maharaj claimed that more than 100 people have allegedly vowed ‘Santhara’.
However, legal experts have expressed concern.
Supreme Court advocate Ritesh Aggarwal said, “The decision of life and death of a minor is not even with the parents. It raises a serious legal and constitutional question: Can ‘Santhara’ be administered in the case of a minor who cannot be legally or emotionally understanding death?”
He said, “Article 25 gives freedom of religion, but not above law. Even religious practices cannot eliminate the legal right of a minor for life,” he said.
Valid question
‘Santhara’, or Salekhana, is a centuries -old Jain tradition considered by its followers as a sacred exit – when death is adjacent, a conscious act of a conscious supreme sacrifice and body fails to support spiritual discovery.
In August 2015, the Rajasthan High Court illegally ruled ‘Santhara’, equivalent to suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code. But this order was made by the Supreme Court next month after a nationwide protest by the Jain community.
Nevertheless, significantly, none of these rules has addressed the landscape of a minor taking ‘Santhara’.
Indian law also allows passive euthanasia, but in rare and regulated conditions – only with court approval, clear medical justification and adult consent.
Police in darkness
Indore police say they were not informed about the incident.
“We have no record of this ‘Santhara’. Nobody informed the local police station or administration,” confirmed Additional Police Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dandotia.
