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SECTION IV
Voluntary Deaths under Other Religions
Society and religions in the past approved different forms of voluntary deaths as acts of piety, conducive to religious merit. Sometimes such acts have been condemned as repugnant to all morals and human conscience. The Hindu Dharmasastras sanction various modes of death. Dr. Upendra Thakur has referred to numerous treatises by Hindu writers on the subject on page 9 of his book. “The History of Suicide in India.'
The Hindu scriptures lay down various rules for the conduct of forest hermits. A hermit is permitted to go with his wife or leave her in charge of his son. He has to subsis on flowers, fruits, roots and vegetables, leading a life of selfcontinence, or self-restraint and of compassion towards all creatures. He should sleep on bare ground and should not enjoy the things that give pleasure." If the forest hermit suffers from some incurable disease and cannot properly perform his duties or feels death to be near, he should start on the great journey (mahā prasthāna), turning his face towards the NorthEast, subsisting on water and air only, till the body falls to rise no more (Manu, vi. 31 )... a forest hermit may resort to the distant journey or may enter water or fire or may throw himself from a precipice.” 1
Whether starting on the great journey or falling down from a precipice is sinful or not seems to have received the attention of writers on Dharamśāstra. Suicide was condemned as a great sin.“ Inspite of this general attitude,” says Dr. Kane, “exceptions were made by the Smțitis, epics and purāṇas. . At extremely holy places like the Prayāga, the
1. History of Dharmaśāstra by Dr. P. V. Kane, Vol. II, Part II, p. 922.
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