Describe the Jain ritual of "holy death."

What will be an ideal response?


A Jain monk, after a long and fruitful life, decides to begin the process of holy death, literally starving oneself to death. He has already gained the permission of his monastic order, and he has the required physical strength and soundness of mind to carry it out. He travels to a place of Jain pilgrimage and ritually "leaves his body" there. After taking vows to fulfill this "holy death" ritual, he begins to eat nothing and to drink only milk and water. Then, after a week, he drinks only water on every third day. About a month after beginning this process, the monk is so physically weakened that he dies, surrounded by a large crowd of reverent witnesses. This "holy death" is not as common among Jains today as it was centuries ago, but it ritually affirms many key teachings of Jainism. The soul of one who dies this way will find a blessed reincarnation.

Philosophy & Belief

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Philosophy & Belief