सल्लेखना के परिप्रेक्य परिप्रेक्ष्य में आहार ग्रहण और त्याग का महत्व

Summary

This article from *Jñāna Deśanā* (Year 4, Issue 1, January-June 2011) by Dr. Rakesh Jain examines the significance of food intake and renunciation within the context of *Sallekhanā*, the Jain practice of a holy death. *Sallekhanā* is defined as the gradual thinning of both the physical body and inner passions (*kaṣāyas*). It is undertaken when one can no longer uphold the vows of asceticism due to incurable disease, famine, old age, or unavoidable calamity, with the aim of protecting one's spiritual dharma. The practice involves seeking forgiveness from all beings and renouncing all attachments. The article details two types of *Sallekhanā*: physical (*kāya*), which involves fasting and penance to weaken the body, and mental (*kaṣāya*), which involves eradicating passions like attachment and aversion. Among the three types of a wise person's death (*paṇḍita-maraṇa*), *bhakta-pratyākhyāna-maraṇa*—death through the renunciation of food—is deemed most suitable for the current era. This process can extend up to twelve years, with a structured regimen: four years of varied physical austerities, four years of renouncing rich foods, two years on simple meals, one year on only *ācāmala* (sour gruel), and six months each of moderate and intense fasting. The article outlines twelve progressive stages (*pratimās*) for a practitioner with remaining vitality, involving vows to accept only the most excellent and rare food over periods ranging from one month to seven months, followed by vows for food every seven days. The text emphasizes the importance of gradually renouncing all attachments to taste and food, moving from solid foods to liquids like whey and finally to plain warm water, under the guidance of a preceptor. The ultimate goal is to purify the body and mind, ensuring a peaceful and spiritually focused