An 83-year old Jain woman, who was on ‘Santhara,’ (also known as ‘Sallekhana’), attained samadhi on the 42nd day of her fasting in Then Senthamangalam village near Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district on Thursday.
Reportedly, she was the first woman to sacrifice her life by observing Santhara in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to The Hindu , her second son Elangovan said, “She was having only half a cup of tea and half a cup of water for the first 30 days of her fast and for the last 12 days she did not take anything.
“Even jain monks visited our place and persuaded her to eat something but she categorically denied. On 2.45 p.m. on Thursday she embraced the death. Her body was taken in procession like the deities were taken and was cremated”. Important Digambara Jain monks in Tamil Nadu, including Lakshmisena Swamigal of Mel Sithamur and Dhavalakeerthi Swamigal of Thirumalai were among those who attended the rituals. It is said that 60 years ago, a man from Tamil Jain community sacrificed his life through Sallekhana in a village near Kancheepuram.
Reportedly, she was the first woman in the State
to sacrifice her life by observing Santhara
