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Foreword
Jainism is a way of life: it teaches not only that how one should live a successful Life, but instructs the humans also, that how they should combat with the ever dangerous monster of death. The aim of life for a man, according to Jainism, is to attain immortality and beatitute. Both monks and laymen attempt to realise it: the monks in a direct form devoting their whole energy and time for it and the layman attempts partially in an indirect form according to his means and spiritual advancement. Both attempts to conquer flesh, with which the death is attached and at the last moments of life observe the vow of SALLEKHANA. Hundreds of epitaphs on the Chandragiri Hill at Sravanbelgola in Mysore State record the observance of sollekhana by kings and monks and laity. However we must distinguish Sallekhana death from suicide. it is not taken in a passionate mood of anger, deceit etc., but it is undertaken only when the body is no longer capable of serving its owner as an instrument of Dharma and when the inevitability of death is a matter of undisputed certainty. Just now the great Digambara Yogi Shri 108 Achorya Shantisagar ji, 'reaching to an age of over eighty and finding his body incapable to serve him in his observance of Dharma, have adopted it. He was living upon fruits and nuts since past many years: but now finding last moments of his sojourn in this life approaching nigh, he has given up all kinds of food and is taking
