Jabalpur (MP): An elderly woman died reportedly after undergoing Santhara, a practise by Shwetambar Jains wherein persons abstain from food and water till death, her family said on Friday
Kamla Bai, 72, stopped consuming food and water four days ago and died on Thursday in Chhavani area in Jabalpur, they said.
The woman was injured after a fall a few days ago and had expressed a wish to commit Santhara, her family said.
Her last rites were performed on Friday, they added.
This was the sixth case of Santhara in Rajasthan.
Earlier 93-year-old Kaiela Devi, a resident of Johari Bazaar, 84-year-old Bavrulal Beerwal of Chittorgarh, 60-year-old Vimla Devi of Jaipur, 85-year-old Dhanni Devi of Bikaner and 77-year-old Amarchand Kaswan of Ajmer had embraced Santhra in the last one-and-a-half months.
Jain community leaders have termed deaths and births as religious events and claimed the fasting ritual of Santhara was a means to attain salvation.
They are also of the view that the ritual should not be treated as suicide.
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