Scientific Secrets of Jainism

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

Page 304

Prohibition Of Fresh Vegetables On Parva-Tithis:
273
form a habit and will not be able to do without green vegetables, fruits etc. even for a day and he will develop attachment towards them. He will cultivate a habit for green vegetables and fruits. We can know it from the following illustration. : Pēthadaśā, a minister and king's advisor was a Jain merchant. In the beginning of his career, he dealt in ghee. It was Pēthadašā's policy to sell only fresh ghee every day. Fresh ghee has distinct smell and taste. They who bought ghee from Pēthaďaśā's shop never bought it from anyone else. King Jayasimha always got fresh ghee from Pēthadaśā's shop and took his meal.
Once the king's maid-servant went to Pēthadaśā's shop to buy ghee. Pēthadaśā has been out. Pēthadaśā's son Jhāñjhanaśā was there in the shop. The maid-servant asked Jhāñjhanaśā to give her ghee. Jhāñjhanaśā said, "No" He said that there was no ghee. The king again sent the maidservant to buy ghee but she did not get ghee. The king did not take his meal. He sent for Jhāñjhanaśā and asked him reason. Jhāñjhanaśā said, "Oh, King! There was plenty of ghee but before the maid-servant came to buy ghee another customer had come. He sneezed and the vessel containning the ghee was open at that time. Since it was open, the poisonous matte excreted from the body of the house lizard might have dropped into it. Thinking of this possibility, I did not give ghee to your maid-servant."
In short, attachment for tasty food may develop into a habit. To avoid attachment, we should eat greens only intermittently.
It is a general principle to karma philosophy that one is born among those for whom one develops attachment. In scriptures there are many illustrations about this. Not even gods are in exception to this. If they develop attachment for beautiful gems of heaven which are earth bodies, sweet smelling water of stepped wells, wells, ponds etc., beautiful fregrant flowers etc. gods of heaven also after their death, are born as earth bodies among gems etc., as water bodies, as trees, flowers etc. among plants.
Gods in heaven do not use fire and wind etc. In absence of any pleasure derived from them, gods do not develop any attachment for them. Therefore after their death in heaven, gods are never born as fire bodies or wind bodies.