Former Union Minister's Father Attains Samadhi After Santhara Vow in Jhansi
In a deeply spiritual event, Vishnu Kumar Jain, the father of former Union minister Pradeep Jain Aditya, attained Samadhi late on Sunday in Jhansi at the age of 91. He had undertaken the sacred Jain vow of Santhara, a voluntary and gradual fasting to death, which culminated in his peaceful passing.
Final Rest at Historic Pilgrimage Site
His last rites were performed on Monday at the renowned 700-year-old Karguanji Jain temple premises, a significant pilgrimage site. Thousands of devotees gathered from the morning, chanting hymns and paying their respects as he was laid to rest in a traditional ceremony.
According to Pradeep Jain, who served as Minister of State for Rural Development in the 2009 Union Cabinet, his father was a cancer survivor and had been religiously inclined throughout his life. On February 6, Vishnu Kumar Jain ceased consuming food and expressed his desire to attain Samadhi. "He stopped eating food and taking medicines and took water only once a day," Pradeep stated, highlighting the solemn commitment to the vow.
Spiritual Journey and Monkhood Initiation
In the days leading up to his passing, Vishnu Kumar Jain was moved to the Karguanji temple, where regular religious preachings were conducted for him. On Sunday evening, he was elevated to the position of a Muni (monk) in a sacred initiation ceremony led by Muni Vishwa Mitra Sagar. He was bestowed with the new name Vishnu Sagar Maharaj, marking his spiritual ascension.
Traditional Funeral Rites and Public Homage
On Monday, Vishnu Sagar Maharaj was laid to rest in the traditional sacred manner reserved for monks, involving a sacred procession known as ‘Viman Dola’. As per Jain traditions, monks who attain Santhara are carried in a sitting posture during the procession. The funeral pyre was created in a pit dug in the ground, where it was burnt, and later a Samadhi was constructed at the site to honor his memory.
The event drew a massive crowd, with thousands of people gathering to pay homage and witness the solemn rites. This underscores the deep cultural and religious significance of Santhara in Jainism, where it is viewed as a path to spiritual liberation and detachment from worldly life.
