Bhojanshala
Jainism is a religion of non violence. In our day to day life total non violence is difficult but we are supposed to follow all that possible to have our living with minimal violence. In view of this diet rules are very strict. This is more so when we go for Tirth Yatra. In normal situations it is difficult to observe these rules of diet and hence most of the Tirth Sthans are having the facility of Bhojanshalas.
According to Jainism, the banquet is a kind of religious devotion. A beautiful pilgrimage, auditorium and audiovisual resort, chanting center, inn, hostel etc. All amenities like a pilgrimage are required. Usually there is a pilgrimage to this facility.
Original Purpose:
● To be useful when it is not in accordance with the rules of religion and today’s diet is not in accordance with the rules.
● One very important point is that also do provide proper food(gochari) to jain monk who during their Vihar.
● The travellers who come from far, can miss their lunch or due to travel they have to opt for evening food, so to motivate them for having food before sunset, bhojanshala provides them opportunity. Same ways who are doing any kind of ekasana or other kind of fasting they will also able to get food as per requirements.
● During 4 months of chaumasa (as per jain tradition) so many people donot eat food after senset, bhajan shala serves then evening dinner with subside rate and this is one way of doing dharm prabhvana.
● There is a price for service and dedication behind the diner. There is a price to consolidate Jain rites.
● Word shala is arised from Sanskrit word nishal which shows meaning of discipline. Nishal means school and where we follow certain rules and regulation. Samne way in bhojan shala we follow jain traditions, rules and regulation for food purpose.
● It says that “ Aahar eva Vichar” means that your thinking purity is depand on your habit of eating.
● So jain tradition is strictly following certain rules of FOOD, which is difficult to follow when we are away from home. So to avoid hotels and other motel food, which are not supporting jain tradition, bhojanshala is a strong substitute for jain community.
Rules of Jain Bhojanshala
The following major rules are followed by Jain Bhojanshala
- Total Jain food
- No Abhakshya food items
- No Ratribhojan
- Following the Tithi as per individual sects
- Minimum cost or no cost
- One is not supposed to waste even small amount of food
- It is usually advised that normally person should do at least Unodari meaning eating less than your appetite
- At all places arrangements are made to provide boiled water
- In case someone is doing Ekasana or Ayambil, the special arrangements are made by authorities
- To provide such facilities at very nominal cost is not possible but people generously donate for this.
- Even non Jains accompanying the Yatriks are served the food.