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Ram Prakash Poddar
Ayaramga Bk1 lesson (8-2) contains some warnings for the monk regarding the acceptence of alms, A householder may approach him and request to partake of food prepared by injuring living beings expressly for the monk or bought, borrowed or taken away by force for him. The monk should refuse such offers. He should also refuse offers of such food as is given without due authority."
A Suyagaḍam verse cautions a monk to abstain from evil food prepared for some guest - for such food also becomes food prepared for him since he happened to be the guest.
Bhagavati-Sutra (267-269), enumerates the blemishes of taking food. These are gluttony, aversion and relish. It prescribes only such food for the monk as has been made free from living beings by the householder and posseses ninefold purity-i.e. it does not involve the act, order or approval of killing, cooking, and buying' on the part of the monk. Carrying food through a distance of more than four miles or retaining it for more than six hours are forbidden.
Lord Mahavira's reference in Satra 556 to Revati's cooking two "kavoyasarira" for him and his instruction to his disciple, the mendicant Siha to beg and bring for him "Pariasiya mujjarakade kukkudamamsae" prima facle baffle attempts at reconciling them with strict abstinence from animal food.
The Naya (5) presents the scruples of monk regarding food in a very interesting dialogue between the Parivrajaka Suka and the Sramana Sthapatyaputra. The Parivrajaka asks: 'Are Sarisavaya to be eaten by monks or not? The Sramana replies: there are two kinds of Sarisavaya-the friend Sarisavaya (of equal age) and the corn Sarisavaya (the mustard seeds). The former are not to be eaten. The latter are of two kinds-those felled by weapon and those not felled by weapon. The latter are not to be eaten. The former are of two kinds-free from living beings.8 and not free from living beings. The latter are not to be taken. The former are of two kinds-begged and not begged. The latter are not to be eaten. The former are of two kinds-acceptable and not acceptable. The latter are not to be eaten. The former again are of two kinds-obtained and not obtained. Those only are to be eaten which are obtained. To sum up the whole dialogue
4. Kiyam, pamiccath, acchejjarh, anisattham, abhihadam.
5. Ja kimei u puikadam saddhimagantumihiyam/Sahasrantariyam bhuthje duppakkharb ceva sevai//
6. Ingala, dhuma, sanjoyana.
7. Navakotiparisuddham.
8. Phäsuya.
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