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XXIII
NO FOOD AT NIGHT
Food at night has been forbidden from religious, spiritual and physical points of view. The sage Markandeya had said that food at night is like eating meat. The Mahābhārata also disapproves food at night. Those who disregard such advice are rebom as owl, crow, ant, vulture, pig, snake, scorpion, iguana and the like. Both sky and cloth-clad Jainas, however, have been so very particular in this regard that he who abstains from food at night is a Jaina. This has become like Jainas' differentia. Lord Mahavira wanted monks to avoid both women and food at night. Like religious observances it has been treated as a minor virtue to safeguard the five great vows. It is, however, observable strictly as a vow, since unlike other vows, it does not admit of any exception whatsoever. Its non-obsevance has been taken as a clear transgression of vows. It has been regarded as the sixth vow in Dasávaikälika and Digambaras like Devasena, Camundarāya, Viranandi, Asadhara and others. The five great vows do not quite contain it, but its importance has been emphasized by all...
Wet with water, seedy food and paths with vermins can best be seen in sunlight. At night it is very difficult to save them, even if one wills it. Somatilaka says that it deserves to be categorised as a major vow.
Food at night causes many diseases. When it is all dark, an ant may be taken with food. This ruins intellect. In case a fly enters the mouth, it comes out in vomiting. If a louse were eaten, it causes dropsy. A lizard causes diseases like leprosy. A hair which is gulped may cause a serious break in voice, A thorn, a nail or a piece of wood that gets stuck up in the throat may cause even death. Bhadrabahu says that a blinding storm is no less fatal. Nisithabhāsya says that if utensils are cleaned at night, water-bodies are bound to perish.
According to Nisithasutra he who resorts to any of the following has to atone for it.
1. The food brought during day is eaten at night. 2. What is brought to-day is eaten the next day. 3. Food brought at night is eaten during day time. 4. Food brought at night is also eaten at night.
You may very well say that because of electric light there is no question of taking the life of insects, for the minutest things are thus quite
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