Jain Sallekhana Religious Fasting Death

Sallekhana, often described as a socially acceptable form of suicide in Jainism, is a ritual in which Jain monks and some lay followers withdraw to an isolated space and fast to death while meditating. Practitioners see it as a disciplined way to shed attachments and accept death peacefully rather than as an impulsive act. In 2015, Indian authorities banned Sallekhana, but the Supreme Court of India later lifted the ban on the grounds of freedom of religion. Today, estimates suggest that around 200 Jains each year still choose to fast to death through this practice.

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