Can I eat peanut in Paryushan
Short answer: No. During Paryushan, peanuts (groundnuts) are generally avoided.
Reason:
- Peanuts grow underground and are treated like kand-mool (underground items), which are avoided to minimize himsa.
- They often have more tiny living beings, can sprout, and get infested, which goes against the Paryushan spirit of carefulness in food.
Tradition notes:
- Shvetambar: In Paryushan, people usually take pachkhan to avoid kand-mool and often green vegetables; peanuts are included in items to be avoided.
- Digambar (Das Lakshan): Many observe similar restraint on underground foods; peanuts are commonly avoided.
Also avoid foods cooked in fresh peanut oil during this period. If you have specific pachkhan from your guru or sangh, follow that exactly.