Ayambil is a Jain fast, mainly followed in Śvetāmbara tradition, in which food is taken once a day, without spices, without oil, ghee, milk, sugar, jaggery, honey, and other taste-enhancing items. The exact details can vary a little by local and guru-based practice, but the commonly accepted allowed foods are:

Commonly allowed foods in Ayambil

1. Plain grains/cereals

- Boiled rice - Wheat - Barley - Millet - Oats - Other simple grains used in a plain form

1. Plain pulses / legumes

- Moong - Tuvar - Chana - Masoor - Other simple dals or beans, if cooked plainly

1. Simple vegetables

- Boiled or lightly cooked vegetables without seasoning - Bottle gourd - Pumpkin - Ridge gourd - Cucumber - Other non-spicy, non-taste-enhanced vegetables

1. Plain root-free preparation

- Food prepared in a very simple way, usually boiled or steamed

1. Salt

- In many traditions, a small amount of plain salt is allowed - Some observances may be stricter

1. Water

- Plain water is allowed according to the specific ayambil rule followed

Usually not allowed in Ayambil

• Oil
• Ghee
• Butter
• Milk
• Curd
• Buttermilk
• Sugar
• Jaggery
• Honey
• Sweeteners
• Fried food
• Spices
• Chillies
• Pickles
• Green chutney
• Tamarind
• Sour items
• Fruits
• Dry fruits
• Snacks
• Processed foods
• Any food with multiple tastes or strong flavor

Very important traditional rule

Ayambil food is meant to be:

• one-time food
• plain
• without taste stimulation
• not prepared for enjoyment, only for restraint

Note on variation

Different Jain traditions and local communities may follow Ayambil with slightly different allowances, especially regarding:

• salt
• certain vegetables
• method of cooking
• water timing

If you want, I can also give you:

• a day-wise Ayambil meal chart
• a strict Digambar-style vs Śvetāmbara-style comparison
• a do’s and don’ts list for Ayambil