Jains avoid brinjal mainly because, in traditional Jain ahimsa, it is considered a food with many seeds and more subtle life-harm involved in its use.

Why brinjal is avoided:

• It has many seeds.
• It is believed to contain or support more jiva-badh than ordinary fruits/vegetables.
• Jain food discipline avoids items that are thought to involve higher violence in eating, harvesting, or cooking.

Why tomatoes are different:

• Tomatoes also have seeds, but in Jain tradition they are usually treated as fruits and are not placed in the same category as brinjal.
• In Jain dietary practice, not every seeded food is avoided. The rule is based on the degree of harm, not seed count alone.

So the difference is not just “multiseeded or not”. It is about traditional Jain classification and the level of ahimsa involved.

Different Jain families and sects may have slight variation in food rules, but brinjal is widely avoided in Jain practice.