page_title: Fasting
section_title: Jainism
hierarchical_section_title: Fasting / Religious views / Jainism
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of Acharya Shantisagar (1872-1955). He observed the vow of sallekhana and died on 18th September 1955. हिन्दी: आचार्य शांति सागर जी महाराज
context_page_description: Fasting is the willful refrainment from eating for a period of time. In a physiological context, fasting may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight, or to the metabolic state achieved after complete digestion and absorption of a meal. Several metabolic adjustments occur during fasting. Some diagnostic tests are used to determine a fasting state. For example, a person is assumed to be fasting once 8–12 hours have elapsed since the last meal. Metabolic changes of the fasting state begin after absorption of a meal.
  A diagnostic fast refers to prolonged fasting from 1 to 100 hours conducted under observation to facilitate the investigation of a health complication, usually hypoglycemia. Many people may also fast as part of a medical procedure or a check-up, such as preceding a colonoscopy or surgery. Fasting may also be part of a religious ritual, often associated with specifically scheduled fast days, as determined by the religion.
context_section_description: Prior to undertaking a Jain fast, a person must make a vow, or a formal statement of intent.
caption: Acharya Shantisagar, among others, observed the Jain vow of sallekhana.
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