Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that primarily believes in Ahimsa ‘Non-Violence’ to all living creatures. Their austerity & food discipline concentrates on elevating the soul through the abstinence of the material world & desires, integrating spiritual upliftment and self-purification.
Jain food methodology is more inclined towards food science. Our body is made up of various minerals, vitamins, proteins and elements such as iron, potassium, calcium & many more. Our ancestors made an amazing and elaborate food plan that involved the right amount of every nutrient required for our body’s well-being. Jain food emphasizes a lot on this food science and that is the reason why it specifies what to eat in our everyday diet.
Jainism doesn’t promote the consumption of Root vegetables (such as carrot, radish, beetroot etc.), potato, onion and garlic. And similarly, during certain days of a month, (i.e. Panchami, Ashtami, Chaudas and so on) vegetables are forbidden for eating. During those days we can only eat lentil-based food. This has been done so as to balance the whole diet of a human.
I firmly believe that we must include this practice in our daily ‘modern’ lifestyle. When we are restricted to eat green n fresh vegetables during those certain days of a month, we will automatically consume lentil-based food. Also, on those days when we have no restrictions on our diet, we ultimately incline ourselves towards eating vegetable-based food. This way we consume green and fresh vegetables and a lentil-based diet equally.
Lentil-based diet provides us with essential proteins and fruits and vegetables provide us with essential nutrients. This way our body is nutrient balanced and healthy. If we tamper with this specified nutritious diet, then only our body starts to become a target of diseases.
And in between this practice comes ‘Chaturmas’ (i.e. four months), the spiritual period from July to October, where we observe austerities & repentance. Herein, there’s a complete restriction over the consumption of green leafy vegetables and root vegetables. As these months converge the monsoon season, the earth gets greener & maximum living creatures abide in the soil. While uprooting the crops, a lot of microorganisms are harmed in the process.
Chaturmas have become more important to follow, not only because of the principle of Ahimsa, but also to prevent harm to our body. This is because maximum microorganisms thrive in the ground during this season and hence in the modern age, to kill these organisms and to save the crops, maximum amounts of pesticide are used. Therefore, to avoid consumption of these chemicals, chaturmas play a very important role in one’s life. Jainism believes in non-violence as by following such a practice we don’t harm the microorganisms and also keep our body safe from dangerous chemicals such as pesticides.
In these four months, Jains follow the sacred period of 8 days known as Paryushan Parva. In this period, there is a complete restriction on the consumption of any type of veggies, whether it is leafy or other than leafy, because according to Jain shastra, these 8 days have chances of heavy rain fall. So, in order to avoid any harm caused to microorganisms by our action or deeds, this practice is followed. Jains go out of their way so as not to hurt even microorganisms, because they believe that harm caused by carelessness is as unpardonable as harm caused by deliberate action/ deed.
Jains live in a complete religious and spiritual environment during the Paryushan parva, where they seek forgiveness for their sins committed knowingly/unknowingly. During paryushan, Jains do complete fasting (Upvaas: Chauvihaar, Tivihaar) for the body’s self-healing process.
“The mind is what the body consumes”
The medical science backs this phrase as it reassures that Anger, Irritation, Sleep, & temperament of the human mind are regulated by its food intake. In Jainism, the intake of onion and garlic is restricted. The reason for it, as also mentioned in Ayurveda, is Onion is considered tamasic in nature – a trigger to irritation & Garlic as rajasic that is a trigger to disturbing sleep & energy. It is also believed & supported in Ayurvedic & Yogic literature that Sattvik diet helps you conquer your desires. So, food plays a very important role in our mind and body’s well being.
