Answer

In Jain Dharma, Ekashana means eating only once in a day, while following proper discipline and restraint.

The main timing rule is:

• Food should be taken only once during the day.
• It should be completed within one sitting.
• Food should be taken during proper daylight time.
• Eating after sunset is avoided.
• Once you finish and get up, you should not eat again that day.

Explanation

In Ekashana:

• You choose one suitable time in the day for your meal.
• You sit and eat once.
• After completing the meal, no more food is taken.
• Water rules may vary according to family tradition, sect, guru guidance, or the specific vow being observed.

Commonly, people do Ekashana by eating sometime between morning and before sunset, according to their health, daily routine, and religious guidance.

Spiritual Understanding

Ekashana is not only about eating once. Its purpose is to develop:

• self-control,
• detachment from taste,
• simplicity,
• awareness of food discipline,
• reduction of desires.

It helps the soul move toward restraint and inner purity.

Takeaway

Ekashana means one meal, one sitting, before sunset, with discipline and devotion. For exact timing and water rules, it is best to follow your Jain tradition or guidance from a knowledgeable guru.