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74 : Śramaņa, Vol 66, No. 3, July-September 2015 going to take birth in a particular realm. Moreover a shower of incense of saffron (keśaravarsā) is experienced in many cases as the soul becomes pure by confessing one's sins frankly and honestly and repents for all the misdeeds performed in the present life Whereas in suicide due to absence of such purity, neither any mysticism takes place nor confession and repentance of one's deeds takes place.
Santhārā is a Jaina technical word which means the voluntary, step by step termination of body with full awareness, wisdom and insight. whereas suicide is committed in laxity, and without insight. Any act committed in laxity is violence, so suicide is violence to self as per Ācārāngasūtra.
The agent of Santhārādoes not adopt any external weapons/aids for self-killing , whereas suicide is killing oneself by means employed by oneself. The common methods adopted for committing suicide are jumping from heights, jumping in wells or deep water, jumping or lying down before a running train, shooting, Sanging, poisoning by use insecticides or other drugs, burning oneself with the use of kerosene or petrol or the use of electrical wires (live) etc. out of emotional immaturity and in psychological depression, It is very clear that the vow of Santhārā is a spiritual practice and it is done patiently and by minimizing the attachment and aversion towards all the nearest and dearest family members and towards one's possession. Whereas in suicide, both the reasons are available and it is done in impatience.
Man of Santhārā has an eye on his upward journey (liberation) and does not think of the external objects i.e. worldly pleasures. He should protect his body for annihilating the past karmas.29 But it is not the case with the suicide, as it is done when the person is unable to enjoy the worldly pleasures and such an act leads to the bondage of new karmas. Santhārā is undertaken voluntarily without any sort of pressure, out of one's own will and with full awareness for the purpose of having
| SR No. | 525093 |
| Book Title | Sramana 2015 07 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sundarshanlal Jain, Ashokkumar Singh |
| Publisher | Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi |
| Publication Year | 2015 |
| Total Pages | 114 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Sramana, & India |
| File Size | 13 MB |