Answer

In Jain practice during Paryushan, whether black coffee is allowed depends on the level of discipline or vow being followed.

Generally:

• If you are doing strict Jain fasting or austerity, black coffee is usually avoided.
• If you are doing a lighter form of observance, some people may take black coffee, but it is not considered ideal for tapasya.
• During Paryushan, the preferred approach is simplicity, restraint, and reducing attachment to taste and stimulation.

Explanation

Black coffee may not contain milk, but it is still a stimulating drink. In Paryushan, the focus is on:

• Ahimsa — minimizing harm
• Sanyam — self-control
• Tapasya — austerity
• Inner purification

So even if black coffee is technically just a drink, many Jains avoid it because it increases dependence on taste, habit, or stimulation.

If you are observing:

• Upvas — usually no food, and only permitted water according to one’s tradition
• Ekasan / Beasan — coffee is generally avoided outside the permitted meal rules
• Ayambil — black coffee is not allowed, as Ayambil requires very plain, tasteless food without stimulating items

Spiritual Understanding

Paryushan is not only about avoiding certain foods; it is about reducing desires and strengthening the soul’s discipline. Giving up coffee, even temporarily, can become a small but meaningful practice of self-control.

Takeaway

If you want to follow Paryushan more strictly, it is better to avoid black coffee. If you have health reasons or dependence on caffeine, consult your family tradition, guru, or knowledgeable Jain elder and follow with humility and sincerity.