No, without taking the vow of sallekhanā you are not automatically deprived of moksha.

1. What is sallekhanā in Jain Dharma?

• Sallekhanā (also called santhārā, samādhimaraṇ, etc.) is

- A special vow taken near the end of life - To gradually reduce food and bodily activities - With the aim of thinning passions (krodh, mān, māyā, lobh) and leaving the body in full samādhi and equanimity.

• It is considered a śikṣā‑vrata / supplementary vow, not one of the three jewels (ratnatraya).

2. What is required for moksha?

According to both Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions, moksha depends on:

1. Samyak Darshan – Right Faith
2. Samyak Jñān – Right Knowledge
3. Samyak Chāritra – Right Conduct

When all ghāti karmas (knowledge‑obscuring, faith‑obscuring, deluding, obstructive) are completely destroyed, the soul becomes kevalī (omniscient). When the remaining ayushya and aghāti karmas are exhausted, the kevalī’s normal death itself becomes moksha.

For this, the key point is total absence of passions (kaṣāya) at the time of death — in whatever posture or external situation the death happens.

3. So where does sallekhanā fit?

• Sallekhanā is taught as an excellent and highly praised way of dying, because:

- It helps keep the mind in forgiveness, detachment, and remembrance of soul. - It avoids new bondage of karma caused by fear, anger, attachment at the last moment.

• But it is not stated as a compulsory condition that:

> “Without sallekhanā, moksha is impossible.”

Rather, scriptures say in essence:

• If one is at the end of life (old age, incurable disease, extreme weakness etc.)
• And if one has followed vows and wants to end life in full awareness and equanimity,
• Then undertaking sallekhanā under guidance is a very shubh and uttam path.

4. Digambar & Śvetāmbara understanding

• Both traditions:

- Accept sallekhanā as a valid, auspicious vow for the end of life (for monks and also for deserving householders). - Consider it different from suicide (because it is done without passion, with dharma‑bhāva and under discipline). - Do not say that “everyone must do sallekhanā to attain moksha.”

Differences mainly appear in technical classifications (which vows, how exactly observed, detailed rules), not in the basic point about moksha.

5. Simple summary

• Moksha does not depend on a specific physical ritual, but on:

- Right faith - Right knowledge - Right conduct - And passionless state at the moment of death.

• Sallekhanā is a very pure and ideal support for that goal when used correctly,

but it is not an absolute requirement that “without sallekhanā, there is no moksha.”