What is the logic of not eating onions potatoes and garlic?

In Jainism, the avoidance of onions, potatoes, garlic, and certain other root vegetables is rooted in the core principle of ahimsa (non-violence). The logic is as follows:

1. Harming Many Life Forms: Root vegetables like onions, potatoes, garlic, carrots, and others grow underground. When they are harvested, the entire plant is uprooted, resulting in the destruction of the plant itself and many micro-organisms living around its roots. In contrast, picking fruits or leaves from a plant typically does not kill the entire plant.

2. Infinite Life Forms: Jain scriptures explain that root vegetables are considered to have an infinite number of souls (nigoda), as countless tiny life forms live in and around them. Consuming these vegetables thus causes harm to a much larger number of living beings compared to above-ground vegetables.

3. Stimulation of Passions: Certain foods like onions and garlic are also believed to stimulate passions and increase bodily desires, which can disturb mental equanimity and spiritual focus. Jainism encourages restraint and control over the senses, and foods that are pungent or have a strong smell/taste are generally avoided for this reason.

4. Scriptural Guidance: Jain texts such as the Acharanga Sutra and Tattvartha Sutra provide guidance on appropriate food for those following the path of liberation. Monks, nuns, and many lay followers strictly avoid root vegetables to observe ahimsa in their food choices.

Thus, the avoidance of onions, potatoes, garlic, and other root vegetables is a practical application of the Jain vow of non-violence and a means of supporting spiritual purity.