Question


What is equivalent of Santhara(Sallekhanā) in Hinduism?

Answer


The Manu Smriti says in its chapter 6 that a Brahmin,residing in forest and living the life of an ascetic ,may end his life by fasting till death.

6.29. These and other observances must a Brahmana who dwells in the forest diligently practise, and in order to attain complete (union with) the (supreme) Soul, (he must study) the various sacred texts contained in the Upanishads,

6.30. (As well as those rites and texts) which have been practised and studied by the sages (Rishis), and by Brahmana householders, in order to increase their knowledge (of Brahman), and their austerity, and in order to sanctify their bodies;

6.31. Or let him walk, fully determined and going straight on, in a north-easterly direction, subsisting on water and air, until his body sinks to rest.

And the practice of getting rid of body in that manner is extolled in the following verse:

6.32. A Brahmana, having got rid of his body by one of those modes practised by the great sages, is exalted in the world of Brahman, free from sorrow and fear.

enter image description here


Note: “The question: What is equivalent of Santhara(Sallekhanā) in Hinduism?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA.