What is porasi?

Porasi (also written Porsi) is a traditional Jain time-marker for taking food.

• Meaning: It literally means “after one prahar.” One prahar is about 3 hours from sunrise.
• Time: So Porasi is the time around 3 hours after sunrise. For example, if sunrise is at 6:00 am, Porasi is around 9:00 am.
• Practice: Many Jains plan their first meal or alms-giving around this time, after morning worship and vows. It is part of the day-division used with other timings like:

- Navkarsi: about 48 minutes after sunrise - Porsi: about 3 hours after sunrise - Sādh-Porsi: about 4.5 hours after sunrise - Noon/Chovihār focus: food only in daylight, none after sunset

Traditions:

• Shvetāmbara usage commonly follows the above timings by prahar.
• Digambara usage is similar in daily conduct; monks still take gochari (alms) only in daylight, typically before midday, and householders may also refer to Porsi around the end of the first prahar.

Essence: Porasi helps Jains align eating with daylight and mindfulness, supporting non-violence (less harm to tiny beings active at night) and discipline.