Aradhana Samdhariya, student of
class 8th, she was just 13 years. She fasted (kathore tapsaya) for inhuman 68
days. And sadly after 2 days of parna she died of cardiac arrest [1](as cited by her
parents Laxmi Chand and Manshi) or by dehydration[2]-as
said by the doctors in their preliminary report by KIMS hospital in Hyderabad
on 3rd October, where she was taken for medical help.
Before rushing to conclusion, we
need to understand few things:
1.
Jain
Philosphy:
Jainism rotates around the principle[3]
of non violence, renouncing all worldly pleasures, desires and possessions. To
be able to attain salvation and to purify one’s soul, Jainis try to align their
soul to the ten righteous virtues or Das-Dharma. These virtues include:
forgiveness, supreme modesty or humility, straightforwardness, truth, purity or
contentment, supreme restraint or self-restraint, austerity or penance,
renunciation, non-attachment and supreme celibacy.
a. Role of tapasya in Jainism and paryushan
parv
Paryushan Parva is considered to
be the most auspicious time for Jains. During this time jains practice penance (samvatsari:
asking forgiveness, pratikaman: daily asking forgiveness for all sinful doings
during the day), religious studies (gyaan charcha) and fasting(vrats) . Asking
for forgiveness from friends, family, one’s self including animals and other
beings is also a key activity towards the final day of the celebration. The
ritual of forgiveness is also termed as the rite of universal friendship or the
practice of Samvatsarik Pratikraman.
Fasting is very important in this
practice of faith. They have several forms of fasting from santhara (complete
fasting to death), Varsitap (Eating on alternate days for a year), Maaskhaman
(Fasting for a month continuously ), Athaiyi (fasting for eight days), tela,
bela, upvas (continuous fasting for 3,2, 1 day) .
In fact Jainism is so minute in its
tapasya that it describes eating habbit like : Ayambil (Having meal only once
in one sitting , consisting of only cereals and pulses not sprouted and it is
spice free , without salt, without milk, curds, ghee, oil, oil seeds, or
green/raw vegetables, fruits and sugar and its products) to porsi (
having food after 3hours of sunrise) to navkarsi (having food after one pehar:
48 minutes of sunrise). You name it and they have it.
In short fasting and penance is
essential pillar of its religious practise. In no other religion fasting and
penance are given such an importance.
2.
Legal
Aspect
Police case has been booked under
IPC section 304 (Culpable homicide [4]not
amounting to murder) and juvenile justice act on her parents.
In this case she was not forced
nor coerced not to eat; it was her free will to choose not to eat. One needs to
understand nobody can refrain from eating without their extreme control over their
senses. It is said that she was
religiously inclined, and had previously done upvas for 7 days and 34 days. Now
she wished to do fast for 68 days.
Her grand father Manekchand
Samdhariya said , that the family tried to stop at 51 but she would not give
up. Nor was this information abetted in any form, rather it was attended by
more than 600 people and Zaheerabad MP Bheemrao Patil [5]also
came to bless the girl.
a. Minority freedom to religious practices
In Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession,
practice and propagation of religion and Article 29 protects the interests of
the minorities by making a provision that any citizen / section of citizens
having a distinct language, script or culture have the right to conserve the
same. This essentially means that this
faith of religious activity is protected by the law of land.
Under IPC section 499 and 500 criminal
defamation and under section 501 and 502 (Printing and selling of defamatory
matter is punishable under Indian penal code Tanta mounting to imprisonment for
2 years.
Conclusion
In this age of scientific advancement,
and morality, Where all outdated religious practices are being challenged. Is it correct for a minor to fast for 68
days?
Is free will and freedom to
practise one religion more important than the sanctity of life? Are jains free
to choose and practice their religion: Which harms no-one, which prescribes
only self renunciations?
[1] http://www.ndtv.com/hyderabad-news/13-year-old-jain-girl-dies-in-hyderabad-after-fasting-for-68-days-1471700
[2] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/13-year-old-Jain-girl-dies-after-observing-68-day-fast-to-bring-good-luck-to-family/articleshow/54750457.cms
[3] Read
more at World Religion News: "Jains Observe Paryushan Parva with Fasting
and Meditation" http://www.worldreligionnews.com/?p=30352
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