Jain vegetarianism facts for kids
Jain vegetarianism is a special way of eating followed by people who practice Jainism. It is one of the strictest diets in India and around the world that is based on spiritual beliefs.
Jain food is completely lacto-vegetarian. This means Jains eat plant-based foods and dairy products like milk and cheese. They do not eat meat, fish, or eggs. They also avoid root vegetables like potatoes, garlic, and onions. This is to avoid hurting small insects and tiny living things in the soil. It also stops the whole plant from being pulled up and killed. Both Jain monks and regular Jain people follow this diet.
The main reason for this diet is the principle of non-violence, called ahimsa. This means not hurting any living thing. Jains believe that any action that causes harm, directly or indirectly, creates bad energy called karma. The goal of ahimsa is to prevent this bad karma. Jains believe non-violence is the most important religious duty for everyone. It helps them reach liberation from the cycle of rebirth. This strict way of living, especially with food, is a big part of Jain identity.
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How Jains Practice Their Diet
For Jains, being vegetarian is a must. A 2021 study showed that most Jains in India follow some type of vegetarian diet. Jain vegetarianism means not eating any animal products except dairy. Food must come from plants, as plants are seen as having only one sense and are the simplest form of life.
- Jains do not eat food that has even tiny bits of dead animals or eggs.
- Some Jains even choose to be vegan. They believe that modern dairy farming can be harmful to animals.
- Jain texts say that a Jain householder should not eat four "maha-vigai" (bad things): wine, meat, butter, and honey. They also avoid five "udumbara" fruits, which are types of figs.
- Jains also avoid any foods or drinks with animal products or meat.
- It's a common misunderstanding that Jains cannot eat animal-shaped foods. As long as these foods don't contain animal products, they are fine to eat.
Jains are very careful not to hurt even small insects. They believe that hurting something by accident is as bad as doing it on purpose. So, they take great care when preparing meals. They also watch out for tiny animals while eating and drinking.
Water and Plants
Traditionally, Jains have filtered their drinking water. In the past, they would pour filtered water back into the original water source. This was to return any tiny organisms to their home. Today, some Jains still filter tap water. A few even filter bottled water.
Jains also try not to hurt plants more than necessary. They accept that some harm to plants is needed for humans to survive. However, they have special rules to prevent unnecessary harm.
- Strict Jains do not eat root vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots. These are called "ananthkay." This means one body containing infinite lives. A potato, for example, looks like one item but is believed to have many tiny lives within it.
- Tiny life forms are also hurt when the plant is pulled up. The bulb of a root vegetable is seen as a living being that can sprout.
- Eating most root vegetables kills the whole plant. But eating other vegetables, like leafy greens, does not kill the plant.
- Green vegetables and fruits are believed to contain countless lives.
- Dry beans, lentils, cereals, nuts, and seeds have a countable number of lives. Eating these causes the least harm.
Other Forbidden Foods
- Mushrooms, fungi, and yeasts are forbidden. This is because they grow in unclean places and might contain other life forms.
- Honey is also forbidden. Collecting honey is seen as an act of violence against bees.
Eating Times and Fermented Foods
Jain texts state that a Jain householder should not cook or eat at night. This is because it is hard to see tiny beings that might get into the food without sunlight.
- Strict Jains do not eat food that has been stored overnight. This is because it can have more microorganisms like bacteria. So, they eat freshly made yogurt or batters.
During certain religious days, strict Jains avoid green leafy vegetables. They also keep their usual restrictions on root vegetables.
Jains do not consume fermented foods like beer, wine, or other alcohols. This is to avoid killing the many microorganisms involved in fermentation. Jain texts say that alcohol confuses the mind. A confused person might forget what is right and cause harm.
Fasting in Jainism
Besides avoiding certain foods, fasting is also a very important part of Jain dietary practices. Jain fasting comes in many forms. Most Jains in India participate in some kind of fasting.
Jain Influence on Indian Food
Jainism has greatly influenced the vegetarian food in some parts of India. These include:
- Gujarati Jain cuisine
- Marwari Jain cuisine of Rajasthan
- Bundelkhandi Jain cuisine of central India
- Agrawal Jain cuisine of Delhi/Uttar Pradesh
- Marathi Jain cuisine of South Maharashtra
- Jain Bunt cuisine of Karnataka
- Kannada Jains cuisine of Karnataka
- Tamil Jains cuisine of Northern Districts of Tamil Nadu.
In India, vegetarian food is popular for all occasions. Many vegetarian restaurants and sweet shops are run by Jains. Some restaurants in India offer Jain versions of dishes. These versions do not include carrots, potatoes, onions, or garlic. Some airlines also serve Jain vegetarian meals if you ask for them beforehand.
History of Jain Vegetarianism
When Mahavira reorganized the Jain community around 600 BCE, non-violence (ahimsa) was already a strict rule. Parshvanatha, an earlier Jain leader from about 800 BCE, also taught his followers to practice ahimsa.
In Mahavira's time, Jains criticized Buddhists and followers of the Vedic religion (Hindus). They felt these groups were not strict enough about ahimsa. Jains especially disagreed with the Vedic tradition of animal sacrifice and eating meat.
The famous Tamil classic, Tirukkuṛaḷ, which some scholars believe is a Jain work, says:
If the world did not purchase and consume meat, no one would slaughter and offer meat for sale. (Kural 256)
Some Brahmins (a group in Hinduism) traditionally ate meat. However, in areas with strong Jain influence, like Rajasthan and Gujarat, Brahmins are strict vegetarians. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a famous Indian leader, said that Jainism was the source of the idea of ahimsa. He wrote that Jainism helped stop the killing of many animals in ancient sacrifices.
See also
In Spanish: Vegetarianismo jaina para niños
