In Jain dharma, “night eating” is closely related to “meat eating” mainly because of hiṁsā (violence) and micro‑organisms:

1. At night, food contains many more living beings

- After sunset, countless tiny insects and micro‑organisms become active and gather around moisture and food. - When we cook, serve and eat in the dark/low light, we unknowingly kill many of them. - Spiritually, this is considered similar in nature to meat eating, because: - In meat, an animal has definitely been killed. - In night eating, many small jīvas (living beings) are killed in large numbers. - So in terms of amount of hiṁsā and karmic bondage, night eating can come very close to the violence involved in meat eating.

1. Jain view: both are strong forms of hiṁsā

- Meat eating = direct, certain killing of higher‑sense beings (animals, birds, fish). - Night eating = large‑scale killing of lower‑sense beings (insects, bacteria, etc.) that we cannot see. - Jain āchāryas therefore say: - If you avoid meat but keep eating at night, you are still doing a lot of hidden hiṁsā. - A true follower of ahiṁsā should avoid both: meat eating and night eating.

1. Link with health and mind

- After sunset, digestion is weaker; undigested food rots inside and increases disease‑causing germs. - That again involves more micro‑organisms and more hiṁsā inside the body. - Heavy, late food also disturbs mind, sleep, and spiritual practice, which adds to passions (krodh, mān, māyā, lobh) and binds more karma.

1. Scriptural practice

- Monks and nuns (both Digambar and Śvetāmbar) strictly do not eat after sunset. - Many śrāvaks/śrāvikās take chovihār / tivihār pachkhan to avoid food (and often water) after sunset, only to reduce hiṁsā. - So, in Jain discipline, “No meat + no night eating” are both seen as natural steps of the same principle: ahiṁsā and saiyam (self‑control).

So, night eating is related to meat eating in Jainism because both involve strong violence towards living beings, visible or invisible. Avoiding night eating is considered almost as important as avoiding meat, for one who truly wants to live by ahiṁsā.

You can read more on “why not to eat after sunset” here: “Scientific reasons to avoid food after sunset” “Why to do chovihār (no food after sunset)”