This is going to happen for the first time in the history of Jainism when a Jain couple from Barmer, Rajasthan decided to take santhara together. Now chanting of Namokar mantra is going on around them and all the people of the society are serving both the people. According to the information, when 83-year-old Pukhraj Sankhalecha, a resident of Jasol village of the district, returned after undergoing a heart operation, he was warmly welcomed, but the very next day i.e. on December 28, he decided to take Santhara. After this, his wife also started announcing to take Santhara on 6th January. Both the people have given up food and water and are now engrossed in the devotion of God.
What is the practice of Santhara?
After all, what is Santhara? What will happen now to both the husband and wife who are worshiping God? There is such a belief in Jainism that when a person’s end is near or he feels that he has lived his life to the fullest, then he leaves this world and goes on the path of liberation. Means slowly wait for death. Many people of Jainism follow this practice. In the first phase of Santhara, a person leaves his home and gets absorbed in the feet of God. And slowly leaves food-water, home-world, family, everything. And in the same way gradually it reaches its final stage and finally gets freedom from this world. Which means he dies in the end. Santhara is also called Samadhimaran in common language. And in almost every prayer of Jainism, “My final death is at your door”, this line is definitely there.
related news
During Santhara, a person renounces all his bonds, relationships, relations, enmity, all these things. During this, the people of the family and society serve them. Tells them about religion, recites hymns and addresses them. It has been almost 18 days for Pukhraj Sankhalecha of Barmer for Santhara. And they have also given up food and water. When the matter of taking santhara of the elderly couple reached the relatives and followers of Jain religion, then there is a fair-like atmosphere in the house of the elderly couple. Relatives and people of Jain religion living all over the country are thronging to have darshan of this couple.
Controversy has happened in the country regarding Santhara
There has been a big controversy in the country regarding Santhara. In the year 2006, a person named Nikhil Soni had filed a petition against it. It was said in the petition that the practice of Santhara is similar to suicide and it should not be recognized in modern times. After which, in 2015, the Rajasthan court called the practice of Santhara illegal and said that if the people of Jainism believe that salvation is attained through Santhara, then there are other ways to attain salvation. After which there was fierce opposition to this decision and the entire Jain community came out on the road. After which this decision was challenged in the High Court and the High Court rejected this decision of the Rajasthan Court.