A major controversy has erupted in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after a 3-year-old girl, Viyana Jain, reportedly passed away shortly after being made to undertake Santhara, a centuries-old Jain ritual of fasting unto death. The incident has triggered widespread debate across religious, legal, medical, and child rights circles. Her case, now under investigation, has sparked questions about the legality of Santhara, religious freedom, and the rights of children in religious practices.
What Is Santhara ? 3 Year Old Girl Made To ‘Fast Unto Death’ By Parents
Why In News
- A major controversy has erupted in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after a 3-year-old girl, Viyana Jain, reportedly passed away shortly after being made to undertake Santhara, a centuries-old Jain ritual of fasting unto death. The incident has triggered widespread debate across religious, legal, medical, and child rights circles. Her case, now under investigation, has sparked questions about the legality of Santhara, religious freedom, and the rights of children in religious practices.
Case Of Viyana Jain
- The incident came to light after the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate declaring Viyana as the “youngest person in the world” to take the Santhara vow.
- On March 21, 2025, Viyana Jain, the only daughter of Piyush and Varsha Jain, reportedly passed away shortly after being administered the Santhara vow in the presence of Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. According to her parents, Viyana had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in January 2025. Though she initially responded to surgery, her condition began to deteriorate again in March.
- Her parents, followers of Jainism, visited the monk for spiritual guidance. Based on his assessment that the child was nearing death, the monk recommended initiating the Santhara ritual. The family agreed. Viyana reportedly died within minutes of receiving the vow.
What Is Santhara?
- Santhara, also known as Sallekhana, is a spiritual vow in Jainism wherein an individual voluntarily gives up food and water with the intent of peacefully embracing death. Practised as a form of ultimate renunciation, it is believed to purify the soul and help the person attain moksha or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
- The word “Sallekhana” is derived from the Sanskrit root words: “Sat” meaning truth or purity, “Lekhana” meaning to wear away or to thin
- Together, the practice signifies a gradual detachment from the physical body and worldly attachments. It is performed by both monks and laypersons but only under specific and extreme conditions, such as:
- Old age and terminal illness
- Severe famine or hardship
- Irreversible physical suffering
- Jain scriptures, particularly the Ratnakaranda Shravakachara (4th century AD), clearly outline when and how Santhara should be undertaken — with mental clarity, forgiveness, detachment, and voluntary consent.
Was Santhara Legal in This Case
- The legal status of Santhara has been contested in Indian courts. In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled that Santhara violated Sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 309 (attempt to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code, effectively making it a criminal act.
- This led to nationwide protests by the Jain community, who consider Santhara a sacred religious practice, not suicide. Later that year, the Supreme Court of India stayed the High Court’s order and recognised Santhara as a legitimate religious ritual, pending further legal review.
- However, the court’s stance applies primarily to adults capable of informed decision-making.
Vinaya’s Case
- The In Viyana’s case, critics argue that a child—especially one as young as three—cannot legally or ethically consent to such a vow. Ethical Dilemmas Raised by the Case
- Parental Consent vs Child Autonomy
- While parents are legal guardians, the ethical boundary of their decision-making is questioned when the action leads to irreversible harm or death.
- In this case, a toddler could not have understood or consented to a life-ending religious ritual.
- Therefore, parental consent, even if well-intentioned, cannot ethically substitute for the autonomous rights of a child.
- Right to Religion vs Universal Child Rights
- Santhara : The parents and monk claimed the act was sanctioned under Jain religious beliefs.
- However, religious freedoms must be balanced against universal child rights under Indian and international law.
- No religious practice should override the child’s right to life, dignity, and protection. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to which India is a signatory, emphasizes that the best interest of the child must be paramount in all decisions affecting them.
- Medical Ethics vs Spiritual Belief
- Medical professionals maintain that the child should have been provided palliative and supportive care instead of being subjected to a physically taxing spiritual ritual.
- Ethical medical practice demands minimization of suffering and non-maleficence, especially in terminal cases.
- The conflict between scientific palliative care and faith-based rituals calls for clear guidelines and stronger advocacy for end-of-life care for children.
- Cultural Sensitivity Vs Constitutionality Morality
- Balancing respect for religious and cultural traditions with the constitutional duty to protect life and dignity of children creates a complex ethical conflict.
- While Article 25 guarantees religious freedom, it is subject to public order, morality, and health, especially when a child’s life is at stake.
- Intervening in such cases risks being perceived as culturally intrusive, yet constitutional morality requires prioritizing child rights over religious orthodoxy.
