![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\nIts 21st century, and almost everyone is health and self conscious. Everyone knows what is healthy and unhealthy to eat. But ever spared a thought on when is the right time of the day to eat?<\/p>\n
We all focus on the right nutrition and are decisive about what and how much to eat in order to stay fit. Seldom do we think on when should one have a meal. Well, it turns out, ancient Indian thinkers have established a whole science behind the right time to eat in order to benefit psychologically, physiologically and spiritually.<\/p>\n
Jainism, one of the oldest school of Indian philosophy has researched tremendously on food. Not only it stops at listing out and reasoning what to eat but also suggests when to eat. It proposes an habit of \u2018Ratri-Bhojan-Tyag\u2019 or abstinence of eating food anytime at night post sunset and before sunrise. The reasoning so strong that every Indian religion subscribes to this thought. Till date, a large number of Jains and Yogis strictly abide by this rule.<\/p>\n
The ideal time to have the last meal of the day is before the sunsets.<\/p>\n
One should never indulge in violence, should never be dishonest or speak lies and should never steal or even will to steal. These are the fundamental basic values of our culture. Just like that, is the fundamental basic value of \u2018Ratribhojantyag\u2019 ( Ratri = Night , Bhojan = Dinner , Tyag = Sacrifice ) or sacrificing\/abandoning the habit\/routine of having dinner post sunset. Ratribhojantyag means refraining from consuming any food substance or liquid after sunset till the Dawn of the next day.<\/p>\n
Our culture is inherently, completely scientific \u2013 is something which even the renowned scientists of the world agree to. Why should one sacrifice having meals post sunset? Here are the reasons why.<\/p>\n
HEALTH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After evening, the organs in our digestive system functions only at 20% efficiency rate compared to normal. Hence even if light food is consumed after sunset, it proves to be difficult for the digestive system to digest that.<\/p>\n \u2018Ajirnprabhaava Rogahaah<\/em>\u2018 \u2013 the root of any disease is dyspepsia or apepsia which in simple words is an upset stomach. Various kinds of diseases can enter ones body through an upset stomach. Contemporary Yoga trainers also oppose consuming any liquid after sunset. <\/p>\n In a Sanskrit Text namely Neetivaakyamrutm, there is an excellent collection of principles which should be governing ones life. In this Sanskrit text there is this life principle quoted \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n \u201cBhuktvo Vyayamvyavaayo sadhyo vyaaptokaaranam<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n To rest or laze around after having food, has devastating effects on the health. Meaning, if there is not a considerable long gap between consuming food then it harms our health. The ones consuming food after sunset violate this principle and as a result invite a host of illnesses in their body. <\/p>\n Our saliva doesn\u2019t dilute well with the food which we consume at night. Hence the Saliva doesn\u2019t mix well with the food morsels and dilute the sugary substance within the food. This increases the chances of getting Diabetes. In present day lifestyle, as and how late night dinners have increased, so have increased simultaneously the patients of diabetes.<\/p>\n In a 2017 study, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that eating late at night raises glucose and insulin levels, both of which are causes of type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n Due to having dinner post sunset, the digestion process of enzymes doesn\u2019t remain active. Due to which the glycogen present in our food doesn\u2019t turn into glucose. Sufficient amount of saliva is secreted when One consumes food at day time. Even the Tairolin Amino Acid is present in the food at that time. The food is digested properly when all the digestive juices and mix well with the food and breaks the food to digestible chunks. This reduces the possibility of getting diabetes. <\/p>\n Due to having dinner post sunset, the hydrochloric acid in our body increases and this leads to acidity. <\/p>\n\n\n When one doesn\u2019t consume anything at night and keeps the stomach empty, then this leads to our intestines cleansing itself better and at a faster rate. The body doesn\u2019t become weak when One doesn\u2019t consume food at night, rather it freshens up and becomes more energetic. By not having dinner post sunset, our body still functions and becomes more active and smooth. This leads to a healthy and long life ahead.<\/p>\n When one skips having dinner post sunset, the phenacites and lymphocytes molecules in our blood starts aging considerably. This leads to our immune system strengthening manifold. Having dinner before sunset can also instil the habit of sleeping early and waking up early. This gives complete rest to our mind. The pulse rate remains stable and calm. The liver is circulated with sufficient blood. One gets rid of mental stress.<\/p>\n\n\n Lecturer of Mumbai administered college, Dr. Yuvraj Bhonsle informs on this subject that <\/p>\n As time passes, the people who have the habit of having their dinner late at night develop diseases like Gastrointestinal Oesophageal Reflex Disease (GERD). Due to these diseases one gets heartburn and a burning sensation behind their chest bone. Even the Oesophagus swells up due to this. <\/p>\n \u201cThe biological clock of our body is set according to the rising and setting of the sun. When the sun is flaring it\u2019s heat in afternoon, the digestive heat in our belly is also at its peak. In short, one can have heavy meals in the afternoon. Hence, on this logic, science says that one must have their dinner at least 2-3 hours before sleeping so that their food can be digested properly before they lie down. <\/p>\n Above the stomach is Oesophagus and below it is the small intestine. When one sleeps or lies down right after having the digestive acid in our stomach seeps in the Oesophagus or the intestine and cause harm to it. The trend of having dinner late at night is at an increase and so is oesophageal Cancer in people. <\/p>\n\n\n A renowned doctor from Ahmadabad, Doctor V. N. Shah is researching on the diseases which one get during their day to day lifestyle. He says<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the heart attack cases have been observed to occur during evening or early in the morning. Which signifies that the attack came after having dinner late at night. There might be many reasons at the core of it but one reason is surely there, which is the gas which got produced due to indigestion and gushed towards the attack. A research done in Hong Kong and China also proves that the ones who habitually have their dinner early in evening have lesser chances of getting heart attack.<\/p>\n At late night party\u2019s usually those food items are served which are difficult for the stomach to digest. When one consumes cake, one consumes 500 calories. When one consumes pizza, one consumes 800 calories. At night, no such activity is done which can burn these extra excess of calories. This leads to heart attacks, diabetes and problems like high blood pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n Nature<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n It is obvious that when the stomach is completely full and the digestion process has just begun, then sleep is not bound to come. And if sleep is purposely induced at that time then the whole digestive system will get disturbed which in turn becomes an invitation for various diseases. To save oneself from it if one stays awake till late at night then even that is set to upset the stomach and invite diseases.<\/p>\n To sleep late at night and then wake up late in morning is also something which is against the sleep cycle of our body. The deep sleep between hours 21:00 to 01:00 is very crucial for the body which cannot be compensated by mornings sleep. Hence it is said \u201cEarly to bed and early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise!\u201d<\/p>\n Eating late at night can also raise your cholesterol and triglycerides, which are types of fat in your blood that can increase your risk of heart disease. If a lifestyle change is not made once diabetes develops, this could lead to other health problems such as kidney disease, heart disease, and blindness.<\/p>\n Scientists have long known that the human body has a master clock in the brain, located in the hypothalamus, that governs our sleep-wake cycles in response to bright light exposure. A couple of decades ago, researchers discovered that there is not just one clock in the body but a collection of them. Every organ has an internal clock that governs its daily cycle of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n Oxygen plays a vital role in the digestion of our food. Sunlight \u2013 daylight has the potential to give our body oxygen to its full extent. Sunlight has ultraviolet rays and infrared rays which destroys all the harmful microorganisms and keep the air and environment our from it. So when we have our meals when during the sprawl of day light, even our immune system gets boosted up. <\/p>\n At night due to absence of sunlight, hormones gets depleted in our blood. Consequently, this reduces the vitality and energy in the operation of our physical and mental activities. It makes our physical and cognitive actives less efficient. This in turn leads to depletion in efficiency of functioning of our organs. Our digestive process then demands more time. And due to sufficient blood not reaching our brain, it can become prey to some of the serious illnesses.<\/p>\n Due to digestion not happening properly, the gas elevates upwards our body and increases the possibility of problems like painful Ulcers. The pregnant women who abstain themselves from sunlight and consume meals post sunset have children who are not completely healthy and fine. <\/p>\n\n\n Having dinner post sunset is an act which is against nature and its cycle. The rule of nature is to consume food during day time and work hard and toil during time and then sleep and rest during night time. If contrary this law of nature is done, like if one sleeps during day time and stays awake during night time, then this can cause a lot of illnesses.<\/p>\n This has been proven and accepted by the Science of Ayurveda and modern science. The same law of nature applies to our eating habits as well. When one observes nature, one finds that the higher order life forms like birds, cows, etc do not have food post sunset. Birds eat during day time, and then return back to their nests right before sunset, is something which we notice daily. It is our culture that the cowherd takes his cattle to graze during day time and returns back during night time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve inhabited this planet for thousands of years, and while many things have changed, there has always been one constant: Every single day the sun rises and at night it falls,\u201d Dr. Panda says, the author of the book \u2018The Circadian Code\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n When one dines late at night then even other household chores like washing dishes get postponed because of that. Sometimes this prolonged period of doing household chores becomes stressful and eventually becomes the cause of fights at home between family members.<\/p>\n In Ayurveda, our digestive organs are metaphorically compared to the lotus flower. As the sun rises so does the digestive efficiency in our digestive organs rises like the lotus flower blooms. And as and how the sunsets, so does the digestive capability of our digestive organs decreases. The food which goes inside the digestive organs which have their digestive efficiency decreased, that food doesn\u2019t digest properly. This undigested food then either becomes an unhealthy part of the organs or gets stuck in the intestines. That\u2019s why it is said in Ayurveda!<\/p>\n After sunset the digestive organs loose their efficiency and hence one must not have food after sunset. At night, even micro-organisms mix into the food, hence one must avoid having dinner post sunset. <\/p>\n\n\n There is a principle in science \u2018where there is darkness there are germs\u2019. This proves that there are more number of germs at night time. Hence there is a risk associated while eating or drinking at night. No artificial man made light can replace sunlight. Rather when at night light is switched on, it attracts more number of germs.<\/p>\n Many times even bigger insects enter our stomach and people face problems right from vomiting to undergoing surgical operations. To prevent insects entering our stomach through food, there is only one practical way which is to have dinner before sunset in daylight. As prevention is better than cure. Many doctors abroad prefer doing Operations during day time only because of the reason that at night time there are more number of micro organisms in air. <\/p>\n Culture<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Vedas prohibit Ratri Bhojan. It specifies \u2013 <\/p>\n \u0926\u0947\u0935\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0941 \u092d\u0924\u094d\u0915\u0902 \u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0939\u0923\u0947 , \u092e\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0939\u094d\u0928\u0947 \u090b\u0937\u093f\u092d\u093f\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0925\u093e\u0964 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0939\u094d\u0923\u0947 \u0924\u0941 \u092a\u093f\u0924\u0943\u092d\u093f\u0903 \u0938\u093e\u092f\u0902 \u092d\u0941\u091c\u094d\u091c\u0928\u094d\u0924\u093f \u0926\u093e\u0928\u0935\u093e\u0964\u0964 <\/p>\n \u0938\u0928\u094d\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e\u0902 \u092f\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0930\u0915\u094d\u0937\u094b\u092d\u093f : \u0938\u0926\u093e \u092d\u0941\u0915 \u0915\u0941\u0932\u094b\u0926\u0943\u0939 !\u0964 \u0964 \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0935\u0947\u0932\u093e\u0902 \u0935\u094d\u092f\u0924\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0930\u092e\u094d\u092f , \u0930\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u094c \u092d\u0941\u0915\u092e\u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u092e\u094d \u0964\u0964<\/p>\n \u2013 Yajurveda<\/p>\n It means Gods have food in the morning, saints in the noon, sages in the afternoon and Evils in the evening. Food consumed after evening is counted as Abhojan = Bad Food.<\/p>\n Many puranas out of 18 advise strongly to avoid ratri bhojan.<\/p>\n Padmapurana says \u2013<\/p>\n \u091a\u0924\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u094b \u0928\u0930\u0915\u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0925\u092e\u0902 \u0930\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u092e\u094d\u0964 \u092a\u0930\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u0940\u0917\u092e\u0928 \u091a\u0948\u0935, \u0938\u0928\u094d\u0927\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0928\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0915\u093e\u092f\u093f\u0915\u0947\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n There are four doors to Hell. 1) Ratri bhojan 2) Vyabhichar 3) Bokhathanu 4) Kandmul Bhakshan<\/p>\n Markandpurana says \u2013 \u0905\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0902\u0917\u0924\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0935\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0925\u0947, \u0906\u092a\u094b \u0930\u0941\u0927\u093f\u0930\u092e\u0941\u091a\u094d\u092f \u0905\u0928\u094d\u0928\u0902 \u092e\u093e\u0902\u0938\u092e\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u094b\u091a\u094d\u0915 \u092e\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0915\u0902\u0921\u0947\u092f\u092e\u0939\u0930\u094d\u0937\u093f\u0923\u093e \u0964 \u0964<\/p>\n Drinking water and eating food after sunset is equal to drinking blood and eating meat respectively. <\/p>\n \u0928\u094b\u0926\u0915\u092e\u092a\u093f \u092a\u093e\u0924\u0935\u094d\u092f\u0902, \u0930\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0935\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u092f\u0941\u0927\u093f\u0937\u094d\u0920\u093f\u0930! \u0964 \u0924\u092a\u0938\u094d\u0935\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0936\u0947\u0937\u0947\u0923 \u0917\u0943\u0939\u093f\u0923\u093e \u2018 \u091a \u0935\u093f\u0935\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928\u093e\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n Oh! Yudhishtira we shouldn\u2019t even drink water after sunset.<\/p>\n Skandapurana says \u2013<\/p>\n \u090f\u0915\u092d\u0924\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0915\u093e\u0936\u0928\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0928\u093f\u0924\u094d\u092f \u2013 \u092e\u0917\u094d\u0930\u093f\u0939\u094b\u0924\u094d\u0930\u092b\u0932\u0902 \u0932\u092d\u0947\u0924\u094d\u0964 \u0905\u0928\u0947\u0938\u094d\u0924\u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u094b \u0928\u093f\u0924\u094d\u092f\u0902, \u0924\u0940\u0930\u094d\u0925\u092f\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u092b\u0932\u0902 \u0932\u092d\u0947\u0924\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n The person eating only one time in a day gets the goodwill of an AGNIHOTRA. a person gets the oodwill of travelling to a temple if he doesn\u2019t eat at night.<\/p>\n \u0924\u094d\u0935\u092f\u093e \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u092e\u093f\u0926\u0902 \u0935\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092a\u094d\u0924\u0902, \u0927\u094d\u092f\u0947\u092f\u094b\u093d\u0938\u093f \u091c\u0917\u0924\u093e\u0902 \u0930\u0935\u0947!\u0964<\/p>\n \u0924\u094d\u0935\u092f\u093f \u091a\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u092e\u093f\u0924\u0947 \u0926\u0947\u0935! \u0906\u092a\u094b \u0930\u0941\u0927\u093f\u0930\u092e\u0941\u091a\u094d\u092f\u0924\u0947\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n Oh Lord Sun! People worship you. Water is said to be blood after you set.<\/p>\n \u0928\u0932\u094d\u0915\u0902 \u0928 \u092d\u094b\u091c\u092f\u0947\u0926\u094d\u092f\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0941, \u091a\u093e\u0924\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0938\u094d\u092f\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u0936\u0947\u0937\u0924\u0964 \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0915\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0935\u093e\u092a\u094d\u0928\u094b\u0924\u093f \u0907\u0939\u0932\u094b\u0915\u0947 \u092a\u0930\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u091a \u0964\u0964 \u0967\u0966\u096e\u0964\u0964 \u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0927 <\/p>\n Person, not having food at night (specially during monsoon), such person\u2019s all wishes get fulfilled.<\/p>\n \u0930\u0915\u094d\u0924\u0940\u092d\u0935\u0928\u094d\u0924\u093f \u0924\u094b\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093f \u0905\u0928\u094d\u0928\u0928\u093f \u092a\u093f\u0936\u093f\u0924\u093e\u0928\u094d\u092f\u092a\u093f\u0964 \u0930\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u094c \u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u0938\u0928\u094d\u0915\u0938\u094d\u092f \u0917\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0938\u0947 \u0924\u0928\u094d \u092e\u093e\u0902\u0938\u0915\u094d\u0937\u092e\u0923\u092e\u094d\u0964<\/p>\n eating and drinking water at night is and parallel to eating me and drinking blood respectively.<\/p>\n \u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0936\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930 says-<\/p>\n \u0905\u0932\u0942\u0915\u0915\u093e\u0915\u092e\u093e\u0930\u094d\u091c\u093e\u0930 \u2013 \u0917\u0943\u0927\u094d\u0930\u0936\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0930\u0936\u0942\u0915\u0930\u093e\u0964 \u0905\u0939\u093f\u0935\u0943\u0936\u094d\u0930\u094d\u091a\u093f\u0915\u0917\u094b\u0927\u093e\u0936\u094d\u0930\u094d\u091a , \u091c\u093e\u092f\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0947 \u0930\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093f \u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n Jain Aagam\u2018s have strictly prohibited Ratri Bhojan.<\/p>\n \u090f\u0902 \u091a \u0926\u094b\u0938\u0902 \u0926\u091f\u094d\u091f\u0923\u0902 , \u0928\u093e\u092f\u092a\u0942\u0924\u094d\u0924\u0947\u0923 \u092d\u093e\u0937\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902\u0964 \u0938\u0935\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0939\u093e\u0930\u0902 \u0928 \u092d\u0941\u0902\u091c\u0902\u0924\u093f , \u0928\u093f\u0924\u094d\u092e\u094d\u092e \u0928\u093f\u0917\u094d\u0917\u0902\u0925\u093e \u0930\u093e\u0907\u092d\u094b\u092f\u0923\u0902\u0964\u0964<\/p>\n Lord Mahaveer had looked this sins and said that we shouldn\u2019t take even sounf after sunset. Our saints (Sadhu and Sadhvi) obey his words and don\u2019t drink a single drop of water after the sunset in the summer season too. People strictly following Jainism also follow this rule. Ahimsa is the base of all religions. Jainism prohibits ratri bhojan to follow this law of ahimsa. There are 22 Abhaksha in Jainism. Out of these the 14th one is ratri bhojan.<\/p>\n Tripitaka is a popular Buddhist Text. It is written in the Pali language<\/p>\n \u0930\u0924\u093f\u0902 \u0935\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0932\u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928\u0902 \u092a\u092f\u0939\u0947\u0924\u094d\u0925\u093e\u0964<\/p>\n It means stop Ratri Bhojan.<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-3.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-4.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-5.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-6.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-7.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-8.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-9.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-10.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jainuine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image-11.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n