The Times Of India

Jains to move SC against court order

TNN | Aug 11, 2015, 02.25 AM IST

JAIPUR:

Reacting to the ban on Santhara practice by the Jain community, Munishri Praman Sagarji Maharaj, a Digambar Jain saint, termed it "unfortunate" and said that the community will appeal against it in the Supreme Court within 90 days.

At a press conference on Monday after the court's verdict, Maharaj said, "It is unfortunate for many Jain sadhaks as it will affect their sadhana (meditation). This (Santhara) is not the kind of meditation the way it was projected in the court.

"I have also learnt that the basis of this ban was that it was projected as equivalent to 'Sati Pratha'. I think people have not tabled the basic religious books in the court. To me, Santhara is the way of meditation till the last breath. It is a way of life for many Jain saints," Sagarji said.

"I don't think Santhara is elaborated in the court properly. Thus I will urge the community to appeal against the court order in the upper court and the community will certainly file an appeal in the Supreme Court within 90 days," he added.

On a question, he said, "Santhara ichha mrityu nahin hai, yeh ek saadhna hai (Santhara is not the ability to die when one wants; it is a way of meditation). The Jain community doesn't accept any kind of death," he added.

Hemant Sogani, a senior advocate at the Rajasthan High court, said, "Some Jain sects were not made party in this PIL."

In the Digambar Jain community the practice is called 'Sullekhna' while in Shwetambar Jain it is termed as 'Santhara'.