Agam 24 Chhed 01 Nishith Sutra Part 01 Sthanakvasi

Author(s): Amarmuni, Kanhaiyalal Maharaj
Publisher: Amar Publications

Page 21

champion to forbid take some of the items like wine, flesh, honey and fruits like udambara, Gular, peepal, Bor, Pakar, and Anjeer (figs) etc. The Jain disciple has to renounce all such eatables. He is not allowed to eat at night.' Day is the natural time for work and taking food. Food is more easily prepared in the day than at night, with greater care and with less probability of injury to living beings During day it is easy to pick out, to separate unwholesome stuff and remove the worms and small insects which find place in provisions. Desire for eating at night or advocating night-eating is reprehensible.
Can any one believe that under exceptional circumstances the saints were allowed to take non-vegetarian food ? It sounds totally a travesty of the basic dectrines taught by Lord Mahāvīra. How can any compromise with or slightest peparation from the fundamental texts be admissible? It sounds ludicrous and absurd to think that exceptions did take place. It will be made clear as we proceed
It must be remembered here how much importance should be given to the rules and exceptions ; vegetarian or non-vegetarian food be cooked for the sādhus or not, such notions about the quality of food, and permission to take the prohibited food out of exceptions, deserve immediate consideration. Frankly speaking, non-vegetarian food is not allowed in Jainism; not only this, if the food is specially prepared for the saint, it is also not allowed. In such cases what about exceptions-made regarding food habits ? What should be decisive in such situations ? Food allowed under the category of a parāda or the basic rule (utsarga)? It is a universal truth that the Jain saints do not take non-vegetarian food; under such situation, is it a case of moral aberration or spiritual decay to accept non-vegetarian food like mutton etc ? If the householders are known to the saints or they have mutual relation and acquaintances there is every possibility that the saints would be condenined for accepting thc prohibited food, although allowed in the form of apavāda. But if the people are unaware of
1. · Puruşārthasiddhyupāya, 129.