Why are underground vegetables prohibited from eating?

Root/underground vegetables are generally avoided in Jainism because their harvest involves uprooting the entire plant and disturbing life in the soil. Jains follow ahimsa (non-violence) very strictly, and removing roots is believed to harm many tiny organisms that live around or inside the root. This is why things like potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, radishes, beets, and similar underground foods are usually avoided in regular meals and especially during holy periods. Some teachers/communities may have slight differences in exact lists or practices, but the core idea is to minimize harm to living beings by not eating underground plants. ( jainworld.jainworld.com)

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