SARDARI DEVI LUNIA DIES AFTER TAKING UP SANTHARA
Jaipur: In the third such death in Rajasthan in less than 10 days, a 94-year-old woman has passed away in Hanumangarh district after giving up food and water in the Jain ritual tradition of 'santhara', her family said on Saturday. Sardari Devi Lunia of Nohar village in the district died on Friday after completing 40 days of 'santhara' and was cremated on Saturday with hundreds of people of the Jain community accompanying the funeral procession, her elder son Vijay Singh said over the phone. He said his mother wanted to take up 'santhara' 20 years ago but the family did not allow her. Sardari Devi is the third person in the state to succumb to the ritual fast in the past two weeks after Vimla Devi (60) of Jaipur died on September 29 and Amarchand Kaswan (77) of Ajmer on September 30. Two more women, Keila Devi (93) of Jaipur and Dhanni Devi (85) of Bikaner are still observing 'santhara'. The Rajasthan High Court, which was expected to give a ruling on a public interest petition likening 'santhara' to suicide or 'sati', has deferred its decision.

ACHARYA MAHA PRAGYA JI OBJECTS INTERFERENCE WITH AGE-OLD JAIN RITUALS
Bhiwani: Facing a lot of criticism from media and human rights activists over practicing the age-old tradition of Santhara or, fast unto death, the Jain community's high priest has objected to this hue and cry, saying it has existed for centuries. Reacting to the hullabaloo over two women committing Santhara, Acharya Maha Pragyaji, said when millions were dying worldwide of starvation and required immediate help, no one seemed to be bothered. The attention given to the cases of self-starvation were unwarranted, he said, adding that society is only concerned about the fate of the affluent. He was referring to the public outcry over ninety-three-year-old Kela Devi Hiravat observing Sathara for the past 32 days.

"In Jain community, anyone undertaking the vow of "Santhara" gives up on food when he or she feels his or her life has served its purpose and awaits death, said Kela Devi Hiravat's family members. A terminally ill and 61-year-old, Vimla Devi, died after undertaking Santhara for ten days. Practicing Jains say their traditions should not be interfered with. The rituals, they say, are not a modern-day phenomenon. "Why would somebody take the agony of fasting for 30, even 40 days at a stretch? 'Santhara' is just a penance one undertakes when he or she realizes that the body has become defunct anyway. So by undertaking it one wishes to alienate desires associated with the body," said Acharya Maha Pragyaji, while speaking on the issue in Bhiwani town in Haryana.

"Santhara' is a religious act, a spiritual act. It is neither a desire to kill oneself, nor to clutch on to life, otherwise, that would be a suicide. 'Santhara' is just a graceful, courageous and peaceful way of confronting the imminent death and about embracing the death through resolve and penance," Pragyaji added. Meanwhile, the State government has said that it would abide by the Court's orders over the issue.

Santhara or Sallenkhana is a procedure in which a Jain stops eating with the intention of preparing for death. This is different from suicide as it is not taken in passionate mood of anger, deceit or other emotions, but is undertaken only when the body is no more capable of serving its owner as a instrument of spirituality and when inevitability of death is a matter of undisputed certainty. The intention is to purify the body, and remove all thought of the physical things from the mind.

Jainism was found by Acharya Rishabhdev, who is considered the first Tirthankar (religious teacher). Mahaveer was the last and the most famous. The basic idea behind Jains' fasting is to acquire lowest possible negative karma and purifies one self in the process. Santhara, in this sense, is the best way to purification. Jain women more often do fasting than men. Fasting also purifies body and mind, and reminds the practitioner of Mahavira's emphasis on renunciation and asceticism, because Mahavira spent a great deal of time fasting. The sole intention is to purify the body, and remove all thought of the physical things from the mind. As well as giving up food and water, the ascetic abandons all desires and dislikes so that they can concentrate exclusively on the spiritual as they approach death.

SANTHARA - A RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN JAIN RELIGION TO ATTAIN MOKSHA
Santhara is different from suicide which is an act of cowardice of a frustrated and emotionally unstable mind. It is also different from mercy killing or euthanasia, where a terminally ill patient who is unable to bear pain desires to die. It is also an escapist route. Neither it is like a sati reserved for women who are burnt forcefully on pyre. On the other hand it is considered a more noble action as it requires a very high echelon of thoughts to be able to realise that one is open to death. Death in Jainism is nothing but transition from one experience to another. But it has a profound impact on all our future conditions of life. Here all our unfulfilled desires and ideas condense into an intense feelings and longings drawing us into the new environment and conditions congruent with our feelings. Hence it is equanimity is required at the time of death as it will determine which gati our soul will take.

Santhara is always taken in contemplation of death, where one is sure that ones time has come and all other responsibilities are over. This ensures that all attachment to the materialistic life and body itself ceases. It may be noted that universally, law also treats actions done in "contemplation of death" or "causa mortis" as different actions from normal activities. For example Gift in contemplation of death which would be ordinarily taxed is not taxed by law. In the same way, Santhara in contemplation of death is different from suicide or euthanasia. The principle behind this is that a person while giving up this body with complete peace of mind, calmness, and patience, without any fear at all not only prevents the influx of the new karmas but also purges the old karmas which are attached to the soul. It is done by a person in complete control of oneself. Chandragupta Maurya, Sane Guruji, Veer Savarkar and Vinoba Bhave are all have died through Sallekhana. They all were rationalists.    Courtesy: Anish Shah.

JAINS SPLIT WIDE OPEN ON GUJARAT CONVERSION BILL
Ahmedabad / Rajkot / surat/vadodara - MODI continues to court controversy and this time, it is his Government’s decision to include Jainism into the Hindu-fold that has unleashed a debate among the community members. While Ahmedabad witnessed dharnas and agitations, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara remained relatively quiet. In Ahmedabad, this decision certainly has no takers among the community leaders. According to Shobhagmal Kataria, president of Bharat Jain Maha Mandal (Gujarat), the main issue is the Government has termed Jainism as one of the denominations of Hinduism. “We have no problem people converting from Jainism to Hinduism or vice-versa. But to say that Jainism and Buddhism are part of Hinduism is ridiculous. It seems that the Government is not aware of reality,” he said, adding, “We are a different religion, different culture and different way of life. Jainism is even older than Hinduism.” At a dharna held at the Town Hall members of Jain and Buddhist communities gathered under the banner of ‘Committee to Fight Against Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act’ to register their protest. They also burnt dummy copies of the proposed Bill while shouting anti-Modi slogans. ‘‘We are here to protest the Bill, as it is unconstitutional and misleading,’’ said Dhammachari Ratnakar, convener of the committee. In Gujarat, the total population of Jains is about 5.25 lakh.  Jains in Gujarat are considered to be financially strong and highly educated community. This may also be a reason for Modi to touch this subject.

Unlike Ahmedabad, Rajkot did not see dharna or agitations by Jains. But it doesn’t mean that the community, which has whole-heartedly supported Modi since his maiden election in 2002, is happy. Modi won the Rajkot-II by-election in February 2002 with the support of around 45,000 Jain voters. The community now stands divided over the issue. People, who supported and later felicitated Modi for winning a case of Cow Protection Act in Supreme Court, are shocked. Though the political leaders affiliated to the BJP have welcomed the amendment, those representing religious trusts and laymen are not happy with the State Government’s move.

‘‘Jainism is a completely different religion based on an altogether different ideology. It cannot be part of Hinduism. Jains’ religious feelings have been hurt,’’ said Kishor Lakhani, trustee of Digamber Jain Temple in Rajkot. It’s the religious leaders of Digambar sect who have started agitation in New Delhi demanding Modi Government’s ouster. More trouble is brewing for Modi from Vanik Navnat Sammelan, which is an association of businessmen belonging to nine castes, including Digambar and Shwetambar Jains, Modh Jains and even Swaminarayan. Majority of the members of the association are based in Rajkot. Former chief minister and NCP leader Chhabildas Mehta, who is president of the Sammelan said, ‘‘We are planning to pass a resolution against the Bill in our next meeting scheduled for October 1.’’ A Jain himself, Mehta added, ‘‘I consider the law unconstitutional. Every individual has right to choose and practice his religion. A law cannot define a person as Hindu or Jain.’’

‘‘One of the reasons that Modi won the Rajkot-II by-election in the home town of Keshubhai Patel was Jains’ support. During all these years, the Jains have felicitated and honoured him on number of occasions. But now the Jain leaders in Rajkot are having tough time convincing the community to welcome the amendment,’’ said a leader on condition of anonymity. Since the time of first mayor of Rajkot, Arvind Maniyar, a Jain, the community has been loyal to the BJP. Modi, with his communication skills and charisma, has pulled even the new generation of the Jain communities toward the BJP. There are around 90,000 Jains, including all sub-sects in Rajkot city. Fortunately for Modi, Digambar sub-sect, who have launched agitation in New Delhi, are in less number in Rajkot, and most of the Jain leaders, who are affiliated to the party, are not Digambars. Be it Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Rupani or Home Minister Amit Shah and former speaker Dhiru Shah, none of them is follower of the sect. In Surat, Jain leaders claimed that Jainism and Hinduism run parallel to each other. ‘‘We believe in Karma but we do not believe in God. Hinduism is a society comprising four religions, Sikhism, Vedic, Jainism and Buddhism. As a religion we hold a separate entity,’’ said a priest of Jain Samaj, Surat.

It is deeply regrettable that on this important issue which will effects all Jains, the community and its leadership at national level is quietly watching the scene. Except Digambar Jain Samaj of Delhi no other Indian Jain organisation or Jain Instututions existing outside India have shown any strong reaction on this issue. Institution like JAINA which represents the entire Jain community of North America and Canada can play an important role in dealing with Modi Government. In view of the  All India Digambar Jain (Dharam Sanrakshini) Mahasabha's   protest against the controversial amendment passed in Gujarat Assembly to include Jainism in the Hindu fold, the State Home department is yet to send a relevant file on the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2006 to Governor Naval Kishore Sharma for his assent.

JAINS MAKE REPRESENTATION TO SOLICITOR GENERAL
Vadodara,  The predominant Jain sect in Gujarat, the Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain Sangh, held a quiet meeting with state's solicitor-general recently to assert that Jainism is a distinct religion and not a Hindu denomination.

MODI'S BILL NOT ACCEPTABLE TO MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
The Catholic church of Gujarat is starting a statewide protest signature campaign against  amendments in religious setups . The Gujarat government's proposed Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2006 seems to have stirred a hornet's nest, as it has got activists as well as different faiths opposing it, even if on different grounds. For the Muslims also the state government's proposed amendment, which gives a go-ahead to different sects within the same religion to move to another sect, has caused great resentment.

JAIN COMMUNITY WANTS NARENDRA MODI OUT 
The entire Jain community in Gujarat is feeling highly agitated over the amendment passed in the Assembly to include Jainism into the Hindu fold. They have demanded an immediate dismissal of the Modi government and have asked the community members to relinquish posts held by them in the Bharatiy Janta party, if necessary. An appeal has been sent to the President, Prime Minister and the Home Minister to dismiss the government. The All India Digambar Jain Mahasabha has also appealed to the Governor of Gujarat not to give his assent to the Bill and refer it to the President, as it violates Article 25 of the Constitution.

JAINISM AND HINDUISM ARE SEPARATE RELIGIONS - L. D. INSTITUTE, AHMEDABAD
Though the controversial Freedom of Religion (amendment) Bill recently passed by Gujarat Assembly the government has clubbed Jains as a denomination of Hinduism, several ancient manuscripts and texts present at L.D.  Indology institute   describe the two as different religious entities. "There is absolutely no doubt that both Hinduism and Jainism are different religions and at our institute we have several ancient manuscripts and scriptures, about 1,000-year-old, and can easily prove this," said Jitendra Shah,the director of the Ahmedabad based L D Institute of Indology. An ancient text, `sad-darshana-samucchaya' written about 1,200 years ago on Indian philosophies by a renowned scholar Hari Bhadra Suri clearly states this difference.

Similarly, another text `syad-vada-manjari' written by Malli Sen Suri about 800 years ago, is a religious commentary and dwells in detail on these two religions, he said. While explaining the difference between the two religions as mentioned in these ancient texts, Shah, a Jain scholar himself said "Hinduism and Jainism are poles apart when it comes to individual Gods, rituals, religious practices and the way of living practised by followers of these religions." Talking about the differences in Gods, Shah said," Three main Gods -- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh -- form the base of Hinduism while among Jains there are 24 Trithankaras." "In Jainism, there is no concept of re-incarnation of Gods, while in Hinduism, Gods are re-born in different forms to counter the evil on Earth," Shah said. Courtesy: Anish A. Shah.

NAXALITE PROBLEM, A REALITY OR A THREAT- ACHARYA MAHAPRAGYA
Hunger is a reality. When it is trampled by the wealthy people it poses a danger. In fact wealthy class of people is trying to underplay this reality and thus it is becoming more threatening. If Naxalites are using their weapons to create terror amongst the community, it is a sign of danger. On the contrary, if it is a signal to awake those who are denying the reality of hunger, then it should not be taken as a danger. Leftist ideology and Naxalism are spreading rapidly. It is a cause of concern for many. The irony is however is that the people who should worry are interested in furthering display of their wealth and consumerism, thereby playing hides and seek with the facts.

I do not wish to dwell at length the various problems. I want to emphasise that those who consider the Naxalism as a threat of direct violence are in fact ignorant of indirect violence perpetrated in the background of Naxalism, which is again a danger to our economy and society. The differences between the rich and the poor are considerably widened. While on the one hand there is an abject poverty where majority of the population is deprived of even a square meal a day, on the other hand there is a display of wealth and consumerism by the wealthy, leading to provocation.

Agriculture is the backbone of India’s development. If a farmer is compelled to commit suicide under the fear of heavy debt, it would imply that the very foundation is shaken. The farmers of Punjab have also taken cue along with those of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in resorting to suicidal acts. It is seen that the violence in the form of many facets is emerging in family life and in society at large. Violence breeds crime. Let us admit that alcoholism is a major vice in perpetrating most of the crimes. It is a major source of revenue for the Government. Total prohibition seems to be a distant dream. These factors have contributed for the mushrooming growth of liquor shops, just as any other store. Despite the resistance put forth by the masses the Government is apathetic to the reality.

During our course of Ahimsa Yatra in villages and towns of Punjab we have our selves observed that men folks move in inebriated condition. The women folks and the children struggle with the domestic problems. Let us all admit that the Government would never be in a position to change the vices of drinking. It can however take stern measures to impose prohibition. There was a time when persons from the various strata of life have made concerted efforts to resolve the issues and provide directives in bringing changes in the society. However in the present situation the decision taking authority is vested with the Government who manages at the top level. It is not clear as how far the persons at the helm of affairs are in a position to contemplate on the problems which have plagued the society.

Notwithstanding if the people at the helm of the affairs share the views of educationist, sociologist, economist, psychologist, writer, journalist and scientist in reforming the society, I am confident, it can certainly pave the way in right direction to establish healthy management of the society. In fact efforts are not as per the expectations. It is expected that we contemplate the problem consciously.

MANY JAINS ARE SILENTLY SUPPORTING MODI
Many Jains who are silent and supporting Modi are unaware how they are harming their own heritage. RSS and Modi Government complaining about Muslim Vote bank but playing same strategy. Secretly all Government employees in Gujarat have been influenced to become member of  RSS to support and carry out their agenda. The same efforts are being carried in M.P. Even if it is illegal, with the help of over Zealous party workers all politicians are securing their seats. Instead of vote bank Gujarat Government is working from inside with effective chain of command. So, no wonder, Modi has winning hand. With this strategy Modi has kept all Jains in his left pocket. However may be now Jains are feeling the bite and things might change.The following is the MUST  READ article for all JAINS. Written by - Prominent Historian Romilla  Thapar
groups.yahoo.com/group/jainhistory/message/722

This is how RSS, BJP and Sangh Parivar is playing religious card in politics. May be Business class Jains either ignorance of their heritage or being assimilated in so-called Hindu fold are helpless and keeping silence. However for such a neglect future generation Jains will pay heavy price. Already with present conversion Bill more than 50  Jain religious institution in Gujarat are in trouble. So every one can ponder and plan their strategy. Politics is the only viable alternative to s