Source: The Hindu
Wire Service: AP
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/24/stories/2005072413341000.htm
On July 24, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Thousands of people flocked to the cremation of a 75-year-old woman here after she gained attention by slowly fasting to death over six months in a rare example of an ancient salvation rite of the Jain religion, her family said. Ratan Bai died on Friday in Ganj Basoda, a small town in Vidhsha district, 120 km north of Bhopal, her son-in-law, Satish Jain, said. Like Hindus and Buddhists, Jains believe in reincarnation. Salvation is obtained by personal effort — leading austere, non-violent lives. A few Jains undertake 'sallekhna,' or voluntary death, a ritual for ending the cycle of death and rebirth. They stop eating and meditate until they die. In July last year, Ms. Bai decided to undergo 'sallekhna.' Accompanied by her three sons and three daughters, she visited the head priest of the Jain religion, Brahmanand, in nearby Katangi town, Mr. Jain said. The head priest gave his approval for her to undertake the ritual."