Answer

During Ashadha Ashtahnika, many Jains observe some form of vrat or fasting, but there is no single fixed meal for everyone. What a Jain eats depends on the type of fast they take:

• Upvas = no food, and in some traditions no water
• Ekasana = one meal in one sitting
• Biyasana = two meals in a day, but still with Jain restrictions
• Ayambil = one very plain, bland meal
• Phalahar = fruits and light fasting foods

So, if someone is doing a complete fast, they do not eat meals. If they are doing a partial fast, they usually eat very simple, sattvic, non-violent food.

Explanation

1) Complete fasting: Upvas

In a strict Jain upvas, the person does not eat anything for the fasting period.

Possible rules may include:

• No grains
• No lentils
• No cooked food
• No snacks
• In stricter observance, no water either
• In some traditions, only boiled and filtered water may be taken, depending on the vow

So during a true upvas, there is no “meal” as such.

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2) Ekasana: one simple meal

If a Jain is not doing complete fasting, they may take one meal in one sitting.

Common foods in ekasana may include:

• Plain roti or chapati
• Simple rice
• Moong dal or other light dal
• Light sabzi
• Plain khichdi
• Curd or buttermilk in some traditions
• No onion
• No garlic
• No root vegetables
• No heavy fried food
• No overly spicy food
• No fermented items in many observances

Typical ingredients may be:

• Wheat flour
• Rice
• Moong dal
• Fenugreek leaves, bottle gourd, pumpkin, ridge gourd, parwal, etc.
• Ghee or a small amount of oil, depending on the observance
• Rock salt or regular salt, depending on the family tradition
• Mild spices in small quantity

Foods usually avoided:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Potato
• Carrot
• Beetroot
• Radish
• Turnip
• Sweet potato
• Mushroom
• Eggs, meat, fish
• Alcohol
• Fermented foods like some batters or pickles, depending on the vow

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3) Ayambil: very plain one-meal fasting

Ayambil is stricter than ekasana. The food is intentionally bland and simple.

Common ayambil foods:

• Plain rice
• Plain wheat roti
• Moong dal
• Simple boiled vegetables
• No oil or very little oil, depending on custom

Ingredients generally avoided in ayambil:

• Oil
• Ghee
• Sugar
• Honey
• Milk
• Curd
• Fruits
• Dry fruits
• Green vegetables in some traditions
• Spices like chili, turmeric, garam masala, and many strong seasonings

The aim is to reduce taste, attachment, and indulgence.

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4) Phalahar: fruit-based fasting food

Some Jains, especially during lighter fasting, may take phalahar.

Common phalahar items:

• Banana
• Apple
• Papaya
• Pomegranate
• Coconut water
• Milk
• Plain yogurt
• Makhana
• Almonds
• Raisins
• Water chestnut flour items in some traditions
• Sabudana in some families, though observance varies

Ingredients often used:

• Fruits
• Milk
• Water
• Coconut
• Nuts

Usually avoided:

• Grains
• Lentils
• Root vegetables
• Heavy masalas
• Onion and garlic

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5) During the fasting period itself

Many Jains do not eat between sunrise and next sunrise, or they may avoid food after sunset. The exact practice depends on:

• The level of vrat
• The sect or tradition
• Family custom
• Personal strength and spiritual resolve

Some also take only:

• Boiled water
• Filtered water
• Warm water
• Water at specific times only

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Common Jain ingredients avoided during Ashtahnika fasting

Most fasting observances avoid these:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Root vegetables
• Meat
• Eggs
• Fish
• Alcohol
• Honey
• Fermented foods
• Heavy spices
• Fried snacks
• Strongly flavored or stimulating foods

This is because Jain fasting is not only about eating less, but also about minimizing violence, attachment, and sensory indulgence.

Spiritual Understanding

Ashadha Ashtahnika is a sacred time of self-restraint, devotion, purity, and inner discipline. Fasting in Jain Dharma is not just physical hunger control. It is meant to:

• Reduce attachment to taste
• Strengthen self-control
• Purify thoughts
• Increase prayer, meditation, and swadhyaya
• Support ahimsa by choosing food with less harm

In Jain understanding, the value of fasting is not only in not eating, but in the spiritual intention behind it.

Takeaway

So, during Ashadha Ashtahnika:

• A strict fasting Jain eats nothing
• A partial fasting Jain may eat one simple meal
• Common foods include plain roti, rice, moong dal, light sabzi, fruits, milk, and nuts, depending on the vow
• Common restrictions include no onion, garlic, root vegetables, meat, eggs, alcohol, or heavy spicy food

If you want, I can also give you a day-wise Jain fasting food chart for Ashtahnika in a simple format.