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Concept of Santhārā (Samadhimaraņa) in Jainism: 63 followers who adopted the vow of Samlekhana is mentioned by him in his book and in the same inscriptions comprising of 8 volumes."
Tirthankara Kunthunatha, Aranatha, Malli Prabhu, Munisuvrata, Neminatha, Pārśva and Ariṣṭanemi undertook the vow of Santhārā and realized nirvāṇa after a month long period of Santhārā." The Antakṛddasa canonical text highlights the several instances of monks and nuns who observed Santhārā and attained the realm of heaven and after three to nine births, they achieved the ultimate goal of liberation. Among those instances, few persons are Gajasukuiāla, Atimuktaka Kumāra, Mudgarapāni, eight queens of Lord Kṛṣṇa etc.? The canonical text, Uvāsagadasão cites the life history of ten house holders who culminated their life by undertaking Santhārā." In Uttaradhyayanasūtra, also we find the essence of Santhara in the fifth chapter i.e. Arahiyaduveloye i.e., 'the one who undertakes Santhara enjoys life here and hereafter in the next birth also." "Along with that then prevailing Santhārā practice can be seen in many manuscripts of Jaina Vishva Bharati Institute library. Seventeen volumes of Śasana Samudra book of Muni Navaratanmalji highlights the brief life sketch of Santhārā observed by monks and nuns of Terapantha Sect from the past near about 200 years. Thus the canonical evidences and the stories highlighting the Santhārā being undertaken is the living proof of traditional ancient religious practice of the vow of Santhārā in vogue.
Canonical Reasons for undertaking Santhārā
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According to Samantabhadra, Santhārā is a vow to be adopted for seeking liberation of soul from the body as a religious duty during a calamity, severe famine, old age or illness from which there is no escape or against which there is no remedy. Akalanka in his Tattvārtha-rājavārtika, suggests the conditions that are required to undertake Santhārā, is,old age, disease, deterioration of power of sense organs, loss of physical strength and six essential duties (Ṣaḍāvaśyaka) seems to be in-observable, Santhārā can be undertaken." This signifies that the process of Santhārā is to be
