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 sprituality 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.

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.

Those who undertake santhara are revered by fellow Jains and their deaths are celebrated publicly. Local newspapers praise them and families often take out full page advertisements of the practice. Santhara is seen as the ultimate way to expunge all sins and karma, liberating the soul from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

In India euthanasia is banned and suicide is a crime. People who try to kill themselves are jailed and people who help them in the act are charged with abetting a suicide. If there is a hunger strike and someone fasts to the point of danger, the police are allowed to force-feed the person and charge them with a criminal offence.

In September 2006 five people died after undertaking santhara. Experts estimate that over 200 people die annually across India from such fasts. Human rights organisations say santhara is comparable to suicide and euthanasia and must not be allowed to continue.

But opponents say santhara is a fundamental breach of Article 21 of the Indian constitution, which guarantees the right to life - but not death. After human rights activists filed a writ in the Rajasthan high court, the Jain community faced a court notice asking them to answer the allegations.