Jains, while performing Biyasan and any higher
austerity have to drink only boiled water. First, water should be filtered
and boiled and then cooled, Then they can drink it; that too, only before
the sunset; not after that. They should not drink water in the nights. Of
course, when water is heated once, all the countless beings in it, die.
But according to the Jain doctrines, in boiled water beings will not be
born and so will not die for a certain period according to the season. In
unboiled water every moment countless creatures are born and they die. So
if once the water is boiled further violence is avoided. The sin of
killing creatures is committed only once if the water is heated; and this
avoids the committing of that sin again and again. Thoughtful people incur
a small loss if by that small loss they can get a large profit. Of course,
we should not cause violence to creatures; but we cannot live without
water; so minimizing sins, we should use water. If the use of hot water is
necessary, it has to be used. Meaningless use is improper. Now-a-days,
even great physicians and doctors prescribe the drinking of hot water.
Boiled water is good for health. In china, today, in large hotels drinkimg-water
is first boiled and then cooled.
