Lotus stem is generally not considered permissible (not “Jain food”) for a strict Jain diet.

• Lotus stem (often called lotus root) is actually an underground rhizome.
• In Jainism, all underground parts – roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes (like potato, onion, yam, lotus stem, etc.) – are usually avoided because:

- Uprooting/harvesting them kills the plant. - It disturbs many tiny living beings in the soil. - Such items are treated like kand-mool / anantkāy (many-lifed) substances.

So, by normal Jain dietary principles, lotus stem should be avoided.

• Both Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions follow this general rule of avoiding underground vegetables.
• In practice, some families may differ, but if you want to follow stricter Jain maryādā, you should not eat lotus stem.

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