Answer

In Jain Dharma, food items are often classified for discipline and purity of diet as:

• Sacitta – living or life-containing substances
• Dravya – ordinary food substances/material items
• Vigai – rich, stimulating, or attachment-increasing foods

Sacitta

Sacitta means items that still contain living beings or life-principle. Examples commonly understood as sacitta include:

• Raw vegetables
• Raw fruits
• Raw grains and pulses that can sprout
• Seeds capable of growing
• Green leafy vegetables
• Roots and tubers such as potato, onion, garlic, carrot, radish, etc.
• Unboiled water
• Fresh plants, flowers, leaves, and sprouts

In strict Jain practice, sacitta items are avoided especially during certain vows, fasts, and higher forms of discipline.

Dravya

Dravya means substance or material. In food-related practice, it generally refers to countable food items or substances used in meals.

Examples include:

• Cooked rice
• Cooked dal
• Cooked vegetables
• Roti, bhakhri, puri
• Flour preparations
• Grains
• Pulses
• Spices
• Salt
• Water, when properly filtered/boiled according to Jain practice
• Dry fruits
• Sweets and snacks

In practices like dravya maryada, a person may limit the number of food substances taken.

Vigai

Vigai refers to foods considered rich, passion-increasing, or attachment-producing. Traditionally, major vigai items include:

• Dudh – milk
• Dahi – curd/yogurt
• Ghee – clarified butter
• Tel – oil
• Gol – jaggery
• Taleli vastu – fried items

Some traditions may also include or restrict related rich preparations depending on the vow, sect, or local practice.

Spiritual Understanding

These classifications help a Jain practitioner reduce:

• Himsa – injury to living beings
• Asakti – attachment to taste
• Indulgence – excessive dependence on rich foods
• Carelessness in eating and daily conduct

Takeaway

In simple words:

• Sacitta = living or life-containing items
• Dravya = food substances/items
• Vigai = rich or attachment-increasing foods

Exact lists may vary slightly according to Jain tradition, sect, vow, and the guidance of one’s Guru or family practice.