Row After 3-Year-Old Sick Girl Made To ‘Fast Unto Death’ By Parents

Indore: At an age when most children are just beginning to speak in full sentences and discover the joys of childhood, three-year-old Viyana Jain from Indore was administered ‘Santhara’ – the Jain religious practice of voluntary fasting unto death – after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Viyana, the only child of IT professionals Piyush and Varsha Jain, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2024. After undergoing treatment in Mumbai – including surgery – her condition reportedly deteriorated. By March this year, when all hope seemed lost, the family, devout followers of Jainism, turned to spiritual guidance.

Her mother, Varsha Jain, said, “Gurudev inspired us and explained everything. With our consent, the ‘Santhara’ was done, and 10 minutes later, Viyana died.” The death reportedly occurred in such a short time because the three-year-old was already very unwell.

Her father, Piyush Jain, said, “We didn’t go with the intent of getting her ‘Santhara’ done, but Guruji said her condition was serious and suggested it. Everyone in the family agreed.” The incident surfaced recently after it was recorded in the Golden Book of World Records as the youngest person to take the vow of ‘Santhara’.

“Viyana had religious understanding equivalent to that of a 50-year-old,” claimed Rajesh Muni Maharaj, under whose guidance over 100 people have reportedly taken the vow of ‘Santhara’. Supreme Court Advocate Ritesh Agarwal said, “The decision of life and death of a minor is not even with the parents.