I have heard many a time people saying this- Janam, Maran and Paran talte nahi hai.
Means, even after reaching another planet, till date this is impossible for the human to decide and control the birth and death of a person. But we human are always keen to do something new and achieve a great thing. It is considered the prime aim of life of the majority of people to govern their death. Some want to live a long long life, to become immortal where some else wants to die according to their own will.
In our mythology even, it is considered as the supreme power to control own death- Bhishm Pitamah was the one who was blessed with ICCHA MRITYU and he died in the battlefield when he lost all hopes to live. But is it good to follow such practice in today's world?
We see many people facing bad time when their near one dies or they face utter failure in life and wants to finish their life but after some time they understand that this is wrong and life should not be finished or even a thought of such act is wrong. We all must face what God give us with grace and thank him for everything and anything he gave to us.
Today I came across the news of stay from Supreme Court on High Court ban on the Sullekhana practice by Jains. According to the Jains, it is the most respected and pious practice to embrace death voluntarily. As per them, Mahavir, 24th Tirthankar allowed this practice to stop having food and water to achieve death, is the ultimate test of spirituality. They believe this practice determine a peaceful death and salvation, which is the ultimate goal of human life in all religion.
Santhara is allowed only for those who are suffering from any incurable disease or who have a gut feeling that their end is near. So, such people may follow this practice to achieve a beautiful painless death.
But there is another view which consider this practice similar to Suicide which is illegal as per Section 309 of IPC. Data say in half a year more than a century of people have died following this practice. Though, they may be aged but is this a way chosen from their younger generation to avoid taking care of them. They say even if a person is suffering from incurable disease, they must be treated well and they should not be allowed to follow such practices.
I agree with this view, what if a young child got suffered from any such disease. Will his parents allow him to follow hunger strike till death. My mother was suffering from Cancer, even Doctors gave up at one stage. According to them, no medicine was working on her and it was wastage of money and time doing chemotherapies. But we could not let my mother dying crying or starving for anything. We did all possible efforts to bring a bit of the comfort, though she left us even after all this. Still, we have a satisfaction that we did not leave any stone unturn for that sake.
I don't know what will be the final decision of court, what is the basic purpose of this practice, but I believe some things need to be in hands of GOD. After all, we all believe he is there to look after our deeds than why to interfere in his work?
I still remember when I was hospitalized for my delivery, when I was asking the doctor for a normal delivery there was a family who was requesting Doctor for Caesarian. The funniest part was they were doing so because some pandit have pre-decided the horoscope of the unborn child according to the time of birth. He said that if the child will take birth at this time, he will have a marvelous life and the well educated parents with their blind eyes were following him.
I have no more words to say about these mentality and practices following by people in the name of religion and GOD. Only he can help them!!
