prayopavesa means the act of suicide by fasting, performed by a person who no longer has any desire, ambition or responsibilities in life. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 82 out of 100.
Why “prayopavesa” is a great word
PRAYOPAVESA — [Noun] The ritual act of voluntarily fasting unto death, undertaken in Hinduism and Jainism by those who have completed all worldly duties and renounced material existence. From Sanskrit प्रायोपवेशनम् (prāyopaveśanam), from प्राय (prāya, "resolve, determination") + उपवेशन (upaveśana, "sitting down, settling"). Unlike "suicide," an act often born of despair or impulse, or "sallekhana," its Jain counterpart emphasizing non-violence and detachment, prayopavesa is a willed, ceremonial exit. It is the deliberate stilling of the body, the systematic refusal of sustenance, and the final, seated vigil where the spirit consumes its last earthly fuel. It is the ultimate settlement of an account long since closed.
noun
- The act of suicide by fasting, performed by a person who no longer has any desire, ambition or responsibilities in life.