Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

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Scientific Secrets of Jainism
after sunrise. At sunrise and sunset, small insects namely a flies, mosquitoes etc. do a lot of harm. Since insects start causing trouble at sunset and stop causing trouble at sunrise, they are especially numerous at those times.
Generally, taking food only twice a day, is not regarded as a penance. But from practical view-point, taking food only twice a day (Biyāśana) is regarded as a penance. Since food is taken at a sitting only twice a day. there is a complete abstention from taking food and water at night and only boiled water is used during day-time, from the hygienic view-point there is no possibility of diseases being spread through insects in water. By taking food only twice a day one abstains from irregular food habits and unwholesome and improper food.
Ēkāśaņa means taking meal at a sitting and only one time a day. Nothing else except boiled water is taken throughout the day. The new generation habituated to take tobacco and flavourings (masala) every now and then, finds it difficult but it is not at all difficult for Jains, living life of regular habits. If food is taken regularly only once a day, the body gets complete rest at night. Therefore, blood and oxygen are needed in a very small quantity for the functioning of various parts of the body and the heart and lungs are not over strained. The whole body gets complete rest. A wonderful alertness is experienced in doing morning duties. After a good mental, intellectual and physical exertion taken during the day, rest is needed. In a one time meal or a two time meal a day, one takes food of one's own choice but abstains from food described in Jain scriptures as Anantakāya i.e. modifications of various roots e.g. potato, sugar-bit, green ginger, onion etc. unwholesome and unfitto-be eaten. One does not, therefore, fall a victim to deteriorations produceufd by all kinds of unfit-to-be eaten, unwholesome and an anger-provoking (Tāmasika) food.
Food is chiefly of three kinds : Sāttvika ( conducive to the highest of the three qualities of nature), Rājasika ( conducive to the second of the three qualities of nature) and Tāmasika ( conducive to the lowest of the three qualities of nature). During penance of a one time meal a day or a two time meal a day. generally, limited Sāttvika food should be taken. Sometimes, Rājasika food also taken for the sake of taste. But one should fully abstain from Tāmasika food because it is anger-provoking, nutritive and stimulating. He who lives according to norms of morality described in Jain scriptures, can