3-year-old dies after undertaking Jain fasting ritual, sparks outcry

A three-year-old girl from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has died after being initiated into Santhara, a Jain ritual of voluntary fasting unto death. Viyana Jain, who was battling a terminal brain tumour, passed away on March 21 at a religious ashram in Indore. Her parents, Piyush and Varsha Jain—both IT professionals—said they followed the guidance of a Jain monk after medical treatments failed.

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Diagnosed in December 2024, Viyana underwent surgery in Mumbai, initially showing signs of improvement. However, her condition deteriorated by March, prompting the family to seek spiritual advice. The ritual began at 9:25 p.m. and Viyana died 40 minutes later.

The case gained attention after the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate recognizing Viyana as the “youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara.”

Santhara, also known as Sallekhana, involves renouncing food and water to purify the soul and embrace death peacefully. While the practice is considered sacred by many Jains, it remains legally contentious. In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court ruled it illegal, equating it to suicide. However, the Supreme Court later stayed that ruling, acknowledging its religious significance.

The incident has triggered concerns among child rights advocates and medical experts, who argue that a child cannot provide informed consent for such a ritual. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine if any child protection laws were violated.