A heartbreaking incident from Indore, Madhya Pradesh has sparked national outrage after a three-year-old girl suffering from a terminal brain tumor was made to undertake the ancient Jain ritual of Santhara—a religious vow of fasting unto death. The child, Viyana Jain, reportedly passed away just 40 minutes after the initiation of the ritual, which was performed on March 21 but only came to light after the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate declaring her the “youngest person in the world” to undertake Santhara. The child’s parents, both IT professionals, claim they made the decision on the advice of Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj, believing it to be a spiritually significant way to honor her final moments after medical treatments failed to improve her condition.
Santhara, also known as Sallekhana or Samadhi Maran, is a controversial practice in Jainism where the individual voluntarily stops consuming food and water in order to purify the soul before death. Though legally upheld by the Supreme Court in 2015 for consenting adults, the use of the ritual on minors is now under intense legal and ethical scrutiny. Child rights activists and medical professionals argue that a toddler cannot comprehend or consent to such a decision, raising serious questions about the role of parental authority and religious influence. Critics further point out that instead of a spiritual farewell, the child should have received palliative care in a hospital setting.
The Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission is currently investigating the matter, and legal experts are debating whether action should be taken against the parents or the spiritual leader involved. Medical experts stress that the girl’s final days were marked by suffering, and her fasting only worsened her condition. While the parents insist the ritual was a dignified spiritual transition, the event has reopened debates about religious freedoms versus child protection, especially when it comes to irreversible decisions made on behalf of minors. The controversial recognition by the Golden Book of World Records has only fueled further criticism, with many calling the certificate “irresponsible” and a dangerous precedent.
