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## The Text and Explanation of the Ayambil and Abhattah (Fasting) Pacchakkhan
This is a discussion of the third light verse 129 of the Yoga Shastra. Now, the nature of Ayambil Pacchakkhan is explained. It has eight agars (exceptions). The sutra text of Ayambil Pacchakkhan is as follows:
**Ayambilam Pacchakkhai, Annatthanabhogena, Sahasagarena, Levalevenam, Gihatthasansattenam, Ukkhitaviegena, Paritthayanaiagarena, Mahattaragarena, Savyasamahiyattiaagarena Yosirai.**
Ayambil is a technical term in Jainism. Literally, it means "Aayam" (dimension) "Osaman" (moisture) and "Aml" (sour) - the fourth "Khatta Pani" (sour water) or sourness. By implication, it means to adopt the rule of not consuming all kinds of Vigai (condiments), spices, etc., which enhance taste or are oily. In this, one should generally subsist on bland (tasteless), dry food items - rice, wheat, chickpeas, black gram, etc. (once a day), which is called Ayambil or Achaaml Tap in Jainism. The implication is that in Ayambil-Pacchakkhan, one has to eat bland, dry food, devoid of nutritious, delicious, tasty, spicy, heavy, etc. items to conquer taste. The explanation of the first two agars and the last three agars has already been given. The explanation of the three middle agars is as follows:
**Levalevenam:** Lep (application) and Alap (non-application). This means that for someone observing Ayambil, if there is an application of ghee, oil, jaggery (sweet), milk, yogurt, spices, green vegetables, dry fruits, ripe fruits, etc., which are not allowed, on the dry food or utensils that are suitable for Ayambil, then it is the agar of Lep. Or, if there is no application on the food or utensils, but the food is eaten from a utensil that has been cleaned or wiped with hands or cloth that are smeared with oil, etc., which are not allowed, then it is the agar of Alap. This means that the agars of Lep and Alap do not break the Pacchakkhan.
**Gihatthasansattenam:** The householder who gives food, if there is any Vigai or spices, etc., which are not allowed, on the spoon or ladle, etc., with which he gives food to the Sadhu's bowl, or if even a small amount of that unallowed substance from the ladle, etc., is mixed in the food suitable for Ayambil, and the taste of that substance is clearly perceptible in the food suitable for Ayambil, even then, eating such an applied substance does not break the Ayambil Pacchakkhan due to this agar.
**Ukkhitaviegena:** In Ayambil, if there is dry Vigai (jaggery, sweets, etc.) which is not allowed in Ayambil, on the dry roti, chickpeas, rice, etc., which are allowed to be eaten, and even after lifting it properly, its residue or application remains on the roti, rice, etc., then eating it in Ayambil does not break the Pacchakkhan due to this agar. This means that if there is a touch of an unallowed substance on an allowed substance in Ayambil, then Ayambil is not broken. However, one cannot lift halwa, greens, etc., completely; therefore, it (Vigai, etc.) remains attached to the allowed food; this breaks the fast if one eats dry roti, rice, etc.
In this way, apart from these agars (exceptions), I renounce the other four foods that are not allowed to be eaten in Ayambil. The meaning of the remaining terms has already been explained.
Now, the description of the Pacchakkhan of fasting is given. It has five agars. Here, the sutra text of the first Upvas-Pacchakkhan is given:
**Sure Uggae Abmattu Pacchakkhai Chavyihamphi, Tivihamphi Ya Aharam Asanam, Panam, Khaim, Khaim Annatthanabhogena Sahasagarena Paritthavaniagarena, Mahattaragarena Savyasamahiyattiaagarena Yosirah.**
**Sure Uggae:** From sunrise. This means that fasting cannot be observed during the rest of the day after eating food.
**Abmatthatt:** The Pratyakhyan (renunciation) in which there is no purpose of eating food is called Abhattharth (fasting). Its agars are the same as before. In this, the Paritthavaniagar is special. If one has observed a Tivihar fast, then due to the permission to drink water, he can eat increased food with the Guru's permission and drink water, but the one who has observed a Chauvvihar fast cannot eat anything.
**Note:** 1. Nowadays, many spicy items are being made for taste in Ayambil, which is reducing the effect of Ayambil.