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JAINA CULTURE
Avoidance of Night-eating :
Ab.cinence from taking food by night (ratribhojanaviramana ) is essential for the ascetic. It is known as the sixth vow and defined as the abandonment of the fourfold aliments by night out of compassion for living beings. The following are the fourfold aliments :
1. Asana—all that is swallowed. Grains, pulses etc. come under this category.
2. Päna-all that is drunk. Water, milk etc. form this variety
3. Khadima-all that is chewed or nibbled. Fruits, nuts etc. come under this group.
4. Svādima-all that is tasted or relished. Pepper, ginger, betel etc. constitute this class,
The practice of night-eating is condemned vehemently by the Jaina authors on ethics. They argue that there exist many tiny insects completely invisible by night even when a lamp is lit. The food may be infested by such insects. Other organisms may also crawl or flutter into it. At night anything, for instance moths, mice, snakes, bones or hairs, may fall into the bowl of food. Where food is cooked and the platters are washed there is even greater violence by night. Thus, the practice of taking food by night provokes great destruction of living creatures. It is also said to be responsible for many diseases. The ideal ascetic takes food once a day. The next best eats twice. No ascetic will take food after sunset and before sunrise. Essential Duties :
Normally an ascetic should divide the day into four equal parts and fulfil his important duties in them. In the first part he should study, in the second he should meditate, in the third he should go on his begging tour and in the fourth he should study again. He should divide the night, too, into four equal parts and perform his essential duties in theni.
