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{{Short description|Set of religion-based dietary rules}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
[[File:Jain Vegetarianism Illustration.jpg|thumb|The food choices of Jains are based on the value of [[Ahimsa]] (non-violence), which means Jains prefer food that inflicts the least amount of violence.]]
{{Jainism}}
{{Indian cuisine}}
'''Jain vegetarianism''' is practiced by the followers of [[Jainism|Jain]] culture and philosophy. It is one of the most rigorous forms of spiritually motivated diet on the Indian subcontinent and beyond. The Jain cuisine is completely lacto-[[vegetarianism|vegetarian]] and also excludes root and underground vegetables such as potato, garlic, onion etc., to prevent injuring small insects and microorganisms; and also to prevent the entire plant getting uprooted and killed. It is practised by Jain ascetics and lay Jains.{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=249}}

There have been calls within the Jain community to stop the consumption of dairy as well because common practices in most dairies of all sizes are extremely cruel. They consist of impregnating a female animal against her consent repeatedly, separating, selling and even sending the male calves for slaughter, and eventually sending the female to slaughter when her body cannot have any more pregnancies. The objections to the eating of meat, fish and eggs are also based on the principle of [[non-violence]] ([[Ahimsa in Jainism|ahimsa]], figuratively "non-injuring"). Every act by which a person directly or indirectly supports killing or injury is seen as act of violence (''himsa''), which creates harmful reaction [[karma]]. The aim of ahimsa is to prevent the accumulation of such karma.{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=26-30}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=191-195}} The extent to which this intention is put into effect varies greatly among Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Jains believe nonviolence is the most essential religious duty for everyone (''ahinsā paramo dharmaḥ'', a statement often inscribed on Jain temples).{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=160}}{{sfn|Wiley|2006|p=438}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=153-154}} It is an indispensable condition for liberation from the cycle of [[reincarnation]],<ref>[[Hemacandra]], ''Yogashastra'' 2.31.</ref> which is the ultimate goal of all Jain activities. Jains share this goal with Hindus and Buddhists, but their approach is particularly rigorous and comprehensive. Their scrupulous and thorough way of applying nonviolence to everyday activities, and especially to food, shapes their entire lives and is the most significant hallmark of Jain identity.{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=154-160}}{{sfn|Jindal|1988|p=74-90}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=110}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=176-177}} A side effect of this strict discipline is the exercise of [[asceticism]], which is strongly encouraged in Jainism for lay people as well as for monks and nuns.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=187-192}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=199-200}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=153-159}} Out of the five types of living beings, a householder is forbidden to kill, or destroy, intentionally, all except the lowest (the one sensed, such as vegetables, herbs, cereals, etc., which are endowed with only the sense of touch).{{sfn|Champat Rai Jain|1917|p=79}}

==Practice==

For Jains, [[lacto-vegetarianism|vegetarianism]] is mandatory. In 2021 it was found that 92% of self-identified Jains in India adhered to some type of vegetarian diet and another 5% seem to try to follow a mostly vegetarian diet by abstaining from eating certain kinds of meat and/or abstaining from eating meat on specific days.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Corichi |first1=Manolo |title=Eight-in-ten Indians limit meat in their diets, and four-in-ten consider themselves vegetarian |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/08/eight-in-ten-indians-limit-meat-in-their-diets-and-four-in-ten-consider-themselves-vegetarian/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=31 January 2022 |date=8 July 2021}}</ref> In the Jain context, Vegetarianism excludes all animal products except [[dairy products]]. Food is restricted to that originating from plants, since plants have only one sense ('ekindriya') and are the least developed form of life, and dairy products. Food that contains even the smallest particles of the bodies of dead animals or eggs is unacceptable.{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=166-169}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=37}} Some Jain scholars and activists support [[veganism]], as they believe the modern commercialised production of dairy products involves violence against farm animals.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge handbook of religion and animal ethics|others=Linzey, Andrew|isbn=978-0-429-48984-6|location=Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon|oclc=1056109566}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Evans|first=Brett|date=2012|title=Jainism's Intersection with Contemporary Ethical Movements: An Ethnographic Examination of a Diaspora Jain Community|journal=Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography|language=en-US|volume=2|issue=2|pages=21–32|doi=10.15273/jue.v2i2.8146|issn=2369-8721|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atmadharma.com/shastras/vegetarian_food_and_jain_conduct_eng_txt/vfjcmpmilk.html|title=Dairy farming and Hinsa (Cruelty) |work= Atmadrarma.com|access-date=2020-02-08 }}</ref> In ancient times, dairy animals were well cared for and not killed.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Routledge handbook of religion and animal ethics|others=Linzey, Andrew|isbn=9780429489846|location=Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon|oclc=1056109566}}</ref> According to Jain texts, a ''[[Śrāvaka (Jainism)|śrāvaka]]'' (householder) should not consume the four ''maha-vigai'' (the four perversions) - wine, flesh, butter and honey; and the five ''udumbara'' fruits (the five udumbara trees are Gular, Anjeera, Banyan, Peepal, and Pakar, all belonging to the fig class). Lastly, Jains should not consume any foods or drinks that have animal products or animal flesh. A common misconception is that Jains cannot eat animal-shaped foods or products. As long as the foods do not contain animal products or animal flesh, animal shaped foods can be consumed without the fear of committing a sin.{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=44}}<ref name=ndtv0417>{{citation |title=Mahavir Jayanti 2017: A beginner's a guide to Jain food |url=http://m.food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2017-a-beginners-guide-to-jain-food-1679071 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=9 April 2017 }}</ref>

Jains go out of their way so as not to hurt even small insects and other tiny animals,{{sfn|Jindal|1988|p=89}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|p=54}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=154-155}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|p=180}} because they believe that harm caused by carelessness is as reprehensible as harm caused by deliberate action.<ref>Sutrakrtangasutram 1.8.3</ref><ref>Uttaradhyayanasutra 10</ref><ref>Tattvarthasutra 7.8</ref>{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=161-162}}{{sfn|Granoff|1992|pp=32-35}} Hence they take great pains to make sure that no minuscule animals are injured by the preparation of their meals and in the process of eating and drinking.{{sfn|Sangave|1980|pp=260-261}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=109}}

Traditionally Jains have been prohibited from drinking unfiltered water. In the past, when [[stepwell]]s were used for the water source, the cloth used for filtering was reversed, and some filtered water poured over it to return the organisms to the original body of water. This practice of ''jivani'' or ''bilchavani'' is no longer possible because of the use of pipes for water supply. Modern Jains may also filter tap water in the traditional fashion and a few continue to follow the filtering process even with commercial mineral or bottled drinking water.

Jains make considerable efforts not to injure plants in everyday life as far as possible. Jains only accept such violence in as much as it is indispensable for human survival, and there are special instructions for preventing unnecessary violence against plants.{{sfn|Lodha|1990|pp=137-141}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=105}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=106}} Strict Jains do not eat [[list of root vegetables|root vegetables]] such as potatoes, onions, roots and tubers as they are considered ''ananthkay''.<ref name=ndtv0417/> Ananthkay means one body, but containing infinite lives. A root vegetable such as potato, though from the looks of it is one article, is said to contain infinite lives in it. Also, tiny life forms are injured when the plant is pulled up and because the bulb is seen as a living being, as it is able to sprout.{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=156-157}}{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=167-170}}{{sfn|Sangave|1980|p=260}} Also, consumption of most root vegetables involves uprooting and killing the entire plant, whereas consumption of most terrestrial vegetables does not kill the plant (it lives on after plucking the vegetables or it was seasonally supposed to wither away anyway). Among Indian Jains, 67% report that they abstain from eating root vegetables.<ref name=":0" /> Green vegetables and fruits contain uncountable lives. Dry beans, lentils, cereals, nuts and seeds contain a countable number of lives and their consumption results in the least destruction of life.

Mushrooms, fungi and yeasts are forbidden because they grow in unhygienic environments and may harbour other life forms.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Honey is forbidden, as its collection would amount to violence against the bees.{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=109}}<ref>[[Hemacandra]]: ''Yogashastra'' 3.37</ref>{{sfn|Laidlaw|1995|pp=166-167}}

Jain texts declare that a ''śrāvaka'' (householder) should not cook or eat at night. According to Acharya Amritchandra's [[Purushartha Siddhyupaya]]:
{{quote|And, how can one who eats food without the light of the sun, albeit a lamp may have been lighted, avoid ''hiṃsā'' of minute beings which get into food?|''Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'' (133){{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=86}}}}

Strict Jains do not consume food that has been stored overnight, as it possesses a higher concentration of micro-organisms (for example, bacteria, yeast etc.) as compared to food prepared and consumed the same day. Hence, they do not consume [[yoghurt]] or [[dhokla]] and [[idli]] batter unless they have been freshly set on the same day.

During certain days of the month and on important religious days such as [[Paryushana]] and 'Ayambil', strict Jains avoid eating green leafy vegetables along with the usual restrictions on root vegetables.

Jains do not consume fermented foods (beer, wine and other alcohols) to avoid killing of a large number of microorganisms associated with the fermenting process.<ref>{{citation |title=Mahavir Jayanti 2015: The importance of a Satvik meal |url=http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404075153/http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |archive-date=4 April 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> According to ''Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya'':
{{quote|Wine deludes the mind and a deluded person tends to forget piety; the person who forgets piety commits ''hiṃsā'' without hesitation.|''[[Puruşārthasiddhyupāya]]'' (62){{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=45}} }}

==Influence on vegetarian cuisines in India==
The vegetarian cuisines of some regions of the [[Indian subcontinent]] have been strongly influenced by Jainism. These include
* [[Gujarati Jain]] cuisine<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/30/stories/2004063000290400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041121220623/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/30/stories/2004063000290400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-11-21 |title=Catering to Jain palate |date=2004-06-30 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2010-05-05}}</ref>
* [[Marwari Jain]] cuisine of Rajasthan
* [[Bundelkhandi Jain]] cuisine of central India
* [[Agrawal Jain]] cuisine of Delhi/UP
* [[Marathi Jain]] cuisine of South Maharashtra
* [[Jain Bunt]] cuisine of Karnataka
* [[Kannada Jains]] cuisine of Karnataka
* [[Tamil Jain]]s cuisine of Northern Districts of Tamil Nadu.

In India, vegetarian food is considered appropriate for everyone for all occasions. This makes vegetarian restaurants quite popular. Many vegetarian restaurants and Mishtanna sweet-shops – for example, the [[Ghantewala]] sweets of [[Delhi]]<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/07/stories/2002110700040300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030301191235/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/07/stories/2002110700040300.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 March 2003 |title=A royal treat in Chandni Chowk |work=Hinduonnet.com |date=7 November 2002 }}</ref> and Jamna Mithya in [[Sagar, Madhya Pradesh|Sagar]] – are run by Jains.

Some restaurants in India serve Jain versions of vegetarian dishes that leave out carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic. A few airlines serve Jain vegetarian dishes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.happycow.net/travel/air_travel.html |title=Air Travel Vegetarian Style |work=Happycow.net |access-date=2010-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emirates.com/hk/english/before-you-fly/travel/dietary-requirements/|title=Dietary requirements|work=Emirates.com|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref> upon prior request.

According to survey responses of Indian Jains, 92% would be unwilling to eat at a restaurant that isn’t exclusively vegetarian and 89% would be unwilling to eat at the home of a friend/acquaintance who isn’t a vegetarian as well.<ref name=":0" />

==Historical background==
When [[Mahavira]] revived and reorganized the Jain community in the 6th century BCE, ''ahimsa'' was already an established, strictly observed rule.{{sfn|Goyal|1987|pp=83-85}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|2000|p=14}} [[Parshvanatha]], a [[tirthankara]] whom modern Western historians consider a historical figure,{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=19, 30}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=132}} lived in about the 8th century BCE{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=30}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|2000|p=15}} and founded a community to which Mahavira's parents belonged.<ref>[[Acaranga Sutra]] 2.15</ref>{{sfn|Chatterjee|2000|pp=20-21}} Parshvanatha's followers vowed to observe ''ahimsa''; this obligation was part of their ''caujjama dhamma'' (Fourfold Restraint).<ref>[[Sthananga Sutra]] 266</ref>{{sfn|Goyal|1987|pp=83-84}}{{sfn|Goyal|1987|p=103}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|p=132}}

In the times of Mahavira and in the following centuries, Jains criticized Buddhists and followers of the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] or Hindus for negligence and inconsistency in the implementation of [[ahimsa]]. In particular, they strongly objected to the Vedic tradition of [[animal sacrifice]] with subsequent meat-eating, and to hunting.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=160}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=234}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=241}}{{sfn|Wiley|2006|p=448}}{{sfn|Granoff|1992|pp=1-43}}{{sfn|Tähtinen|1976|pp=8-9}}

According to the famous [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Tamil literature|classic]], [[Tirukkuṛaḷ]], which is also considered a Jain work by some scholars:
<blockquote>If the world did not purchase and consume meat, no one would slaughter and offer meat for sale. (Kural 256){{sfn|Tiruvaḷḷuvar|2000}}</blockquote>

Some Brahmins—[[Kashmiri Pandit]]s and [[Bengali Brahmins]]—have traditionally eaten meat (primarily seafood). However, in regions with strong Jain influence such as [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]], or strong Jain influence in the past such as [[Karnataka]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], Brahmins are strict vegetarians. Bal Gangadhar Tilak has described Jainism as the originator of ahimsa. He wrote in a letter:<blockquote>In ancient times, innumerable animals were butchered in sacrifices. Evidence in support of this is found in various poetic compositions such as the Meghaduta. But the credit for the disappearance of this terrible massacre from the Brahminical religion goes to Jainism.<ref>Bombay Samachar, Mumbai:10 Dec, 1904</ref></blockquote>

== See also ==

{{col div|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Fruitarianism]]
* [[Veganism]]
* [[Indian cuisine]]
* [[List of diets]]
* [[Sattvic diet]]
* [[Vegetarian cuisine]]
* [[Vegetarianism and religion]]
* [[Vitalism (Jainism)]]
* [[Vegetarianism and ecology]]
{{colend}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
* {{citation |last=Alsdorf |first=Ludwig |author-link=Ludwing Alsdorf |title=Beiträge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien |publisher=[[Wiesbaden]] |date=1962 }}
* {{citation |last=Chatterjee |first=Asim Kumar |author-link=Asim Kumar Chatterjee |title=A comprehensive history of Jainism |volume=1 |edition=2nd rev. |publisher=[[Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers]] |date=2000 |location=[[New Delhi]] |isbn=81-215-0931-9 }}
* {{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8iAAgAAQBAJ |edition=Second |date=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=0-415-26605-X |location=[[London]] and [[New York City]] }}
* {{citation |last=Granoff |first=Phyllis |author-link=Phyllis Granoff |title=The Violence of Non-Violence: A Study of Some Jain Responses to Non-Jain Religious Practices |journal=Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies |date=1992 |volume=15 }}
* {{citation |last=Goyal |first=Śrīrāma |author-link=Sriram Goyal |title=A history of Indian Buddhism |publisher=[[Kusumanjali Prakashan]] |date=1987 |location=[[Meerut]] }}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Champat Rai |author-link=Champat Rai Jain |title=The Practical Path |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EscwAQAAMAAJ |date=1917 |publisher=[[The Central Jaina Publishing House]] |ref={{sfnref|Champat Rai Jain|1917}} }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Jagdishchandra |author-link=Jagdishchandra Jain |title=Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canon and Commentaries |edition=2nd |location=[[New Delhi]] |date=1984 |ref={{sfnref|Jagdishchandra Jain|1984}} }}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Vijay K. |author-link=Vijay K. Jain |title=Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya: Realization of the Pure Self, With Hindi and English Translation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4iyUu4Fc2-YC |date=2012 |publisher=[[Vikalp Printers]] |isbn=978-81-903639-4-5 |ref={{sfnref|Vijay K. Jain|2012}} }} {{PD-notice}}
* {{citation |last=Jindal |first=K.B. |author-link=K.B. Jindal |title=An epitome of Jainism |location=[[New Delhi]] |date=1988 }}
* {{citation|author1-link=James Laidlaw (anthropologist) |last=Laidlaw |first=James |author-link= |title=Riches and Renunciation. Religion, economy, and society among the Jains |publisher=[[Oxford]] |date=1995 }}
* {{citation |last=Lodha |first=R.M. |author-link=R.M. Lodha |title=Conservation of Vegetation and Jain Philosophy, in: Medieval Jainism: Culture and Environment |location=[[New Delhi]] |date=1990 }}
* {{citation |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |author-link=Vilas Adinath Sangave |title=Jaina Community |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FWdWrRGV_t8C |date=1980 |publisher=[[Popular Prakashan]] |location=[[Bombay]] |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0-317-12346-3 }}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |author-link=Natubhai Shah |title=Jainism: The World of Conquerors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLNQKGcDIhsC |volume=I |date=2004 |orig-year=First published in 1998 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-1938-1 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|2004}} }}
* {{citation |last=Tähtinen |first=Unto |author-link=Unto Tahtinen |title=Ahimsa. Non-Violence in Indian Tradition |location=[[London]] |date=1976 }}
* {{citation |last=Tiruvaḷḷuvar |author-link=Tiruvalluvar |others=trans. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami |title=Tirukkuṟaḷ (Tirukural : ethical masterpiece of the Tamil people) |publisher=[[Abhinav Publications]] |year=2000 |location=[[New Delhi]] |isbn=81-7017-390-6 }}
* {{citation |last=Wiley |first=Kristi L. |author-link=Kristi Wiley |title=Ahimsa and Compassion in Jainism, in Studies in Jaina History and Culture |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Flügel |editor-link=Peter Flügel |location=[[London]] |date=2006 }}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}
*[https://jainworld.com/literature/jain-food/list-of-foods-that-are-not-jain List of Foods that are not-Jain]

{{Jainism topics}}
{{Vegetarianism}}
{{Diets}}
{{Cuisines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain vegetarianism| ]]
[[Category:Vegetarian dishes of India]]
[[Category:Vegetarianism in India]]
[[Category:Jain practices|Vegetarianism]]

Jain vegetarianism - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 07:27, 14 August 2023