DONGARGARH (Chhattisgarh), Feb 19: Jain monk Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj embraced
death at the age of 77 on Sunday morning after undertaking 'sallekhana', a religious
practice involving voluntary fasting unto death.
According to a statement issued by the teerth, the Acharya attained Samadhi
through 'sallekhana' at Chandragiri Teerth at 2:35 am. 'Sallekhna' is a Jain
religious practice involving voluntary fasting unto death for spiritual purification.
The rites were being held at Chandragiri Teerth in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon.
"Maharaj was staying on the teerth in Dongargarh for the last six months and
was unwell for the past few days. For the last three days, he was observing
'sallekhana', a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death, and had quit
intake of food and liquids. According to Jainism, it is a vow taken for spiritual
purification," the statement said.
The State Government declared a half-day State mourning on Sunday.
Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj was born on October 10, 1946, in Karnataka's Sadalga.
He became a renowned saint among the Digambar Jain community. He was a Sanskrit
scholar and writer and promoted Hindi.
