Root-vegetable avoidance in Jainism stems from the principle of ahimsa (non-violence). Jains aim to minimize harm to all living beings, including tiny life forms in the soil and inside plants. Root vegetables, when uprooted, are seen as destroying the entire plant and potentially harming many small life-forms that live in or around the root. Because roots are harvested from the soil, they are believed to involve more injury than picking fruits or leaves, which lets the plant continue to live. This is the core reason many Jains avoid root vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, and similar items. ( jainknowledge.com)

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