Prayopavesa
Prayopavesa or Prayopavesha (Sanskrit: प्रायोपवेशनम्) is a traditional Hindu practice of ending one's life through fasting when one's life mission is complete and one feels it is time to depart from this world. It is considered different from suicide as it is not taken in a moment of despair or emotional distress, but rather after a long period of consideration.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term Prayopavesa is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Praya' meaning 'life' and 'Upavesa' meaning 'near', 'approach', or 'sit down'. Thus, Prayopavesa can be translated as 'sitting down near life', indicating the act of willingly approaching death.
Practice[edit | edit source]
Prayopavesa is a practice that is only allowed for people who have no desire or ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in life. It is also reserved for those who have no ambition to live and the decision is made when the person is in full consciousness. The person undertaking Prayopavesa declares their intention to fast unto death and then refrains from eating or drinking anything until death occurs.
Religious Significance[edit | edit source]
In Hinduism, Prayopavesa is considered a legitimate way to end one's life, especially for those who have fulfilled all their duties and have no further obligations. It is seen as a way to attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).
Notable Instances[edit | edit source]
Several notable instances of Prayopavesa have occurred throughout history. For example, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 15th-century saint, is believed to have ended his life through Prayopavesa. More recently, Vinoba Bhave, a social reformer and spiritual teacher, also chose to end his life through this practice in 1982.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
 |
|
|
| Prayopavesa Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
