What is unnodiri tap
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Answer
In Jain Dharma, Unnodari Tap means eating less than one’s full appetite.
It is one of the six external austerities known as Bahya Tap.
Explanation
The word Unnodari means keeping the stomach less than full. In this tap, a person deliberately eats less food than they can normally eat, with awareness and self-control.
For example:
- If a person can comfortably eat 4 rotis, they may eat only 3.
- If they usually eat a full plate, they may reduce the quantity.
The purpose is not to harm the body, but to reduce attachment to taste, food, and comfort.
Spiritual Understanding
Unnodari Tap helps a person develop:
- Control over desires
- Discipline in eating
- Reduction of greed for taste
- Awareness of the soul over the body
In Jain practice, food is not taken merely for pleasure, but to support the body for spiritual progress.
Takeaway
Unnodari Tap is the practice of eating less than one’s capacity, with self-restraint, to reduce attachment and strengthen spiritual discipline.