can jains eat lotus stem

In Jainism, lotus stem (also called lotus root) is generally not allowed.

Reason in simple terms:

• Lotus stem is actually a rhizome (an underground part of the plant, like potato, arbi, etc.).
• In Jain diet, all underground vegetables (roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes) are avoided, because:

- Uprooting them kills the whole plant. - It disturbs many tiny living beings (jīvas) in the soil.

• Such underground items are treated like anantkāy vanaspati (plants with innumerable lives in one body), so eating them involves more hiṁsā (violence).

So, by strict Jain rules, lotus stem is to be avoided, just like potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, arbi, etc.

Practice note:

• Both Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions teach avoiding underground vegetables.
• If in doubt, follow the maryādā (guidance) of your own guru / local saṅgh, but the common, traditional view is: do not eat lotus stem.