What were the early days in royal Kshatriya family ? Did Mahavir hunt or eat meat as a child and what was the lifestyle of Mahavir and the royal family ? Who did they worship?

Based on the sources, Mahavira was indeed aware of the previous Tirthankaras, particularly Parshva. His parents were followers of Parshva, the penultimate Tirthankara who lived about 250 years earlier, and Mahavira is described not as the founder of Jainism but as its "rejuvenator, propagator and exponent" of a tradition taught by Parshva and other omniscient teachers [5]. This indicates he was raised in a religious environment that recognized the lineage of Tirthankaras, including earlier ones like Adinath (Rshabha), who is mentioned as the first Tirthankara in the tradition [1]. As a child and youth, Mahavira led a princely but spiritually inclined life. He was born into a royal Kshatriya family in Kundalpur (part of the Vaishali republic) to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, and was named Vardhaman because the family's prosperity increased after his conception [3][4]. From early childhood, he was unusually intelligent, fearless, affectionate, and compassionate; he excelled at school with hardly any instruction needed, and showed courage by catching a snake and remaining unmoved by a giant monster [3][4]. He received a thorough education as a royal prince, studying the arts, the Vedas with their angas, and the whole range of Brahmanical learning [1]. He realized at an early age that worldly happiness is impermanent and based on the misery of others, so he planned to renounce the world, but he delayed doing so because he knew his parents would be sad; he married Princess Yashoda and had a daughter (per the Shvetambara tradition) before his parents passed away when he was 28 [3][4]. After their death, he renounced the world and pursued a life of severe austerities for twelve years before attaining Kevalinship [1][5].

Based on the provided context, the question of eating pumpkin is not directly addressed. The texts discuss rules for ascetics regarding the consumption of items like garlic, mangoes, and sugarcane, focusing on whether they are free from living beings (eggs, germs) and prepared acceptably [1]. For example, garlic may be eaten only under specific conditions, such as during illness, if it is sliced and free from contamination [1]. The context also mentions that pickles of various fruits and vegetables are eatable for only three days before they breed germs [2]. In general, pumpkin is a vegetable that is commonly eaten and is not prohibited in most dietary practices. However, in the context of Jainism, the key considerations would be whether the pumpkin is fresh, free from insects or germs, and prepared in a way that avoids harm to living beings. As the provided sources do not specifically mention pumpkin, a general answer is that pumpkin can be eaten if it is fresh, properly cleaned, and prepared without violating principles of non-violence.

The "8 days" refers to the eight specific days in the Jain calendar that are designated as *asvadhyaya* (periods when scriptural study is prohibited) due to the four great festivals (*Mahotsavas*) and the four days following them (*Mahapratipada*). These are: the full moon days (Purnima) of Ashadh, Ashwin (Asoj), Kartik, and Chaitra, plus the first day of the bright fortnight (Ekam) following each of these full moons—specifically in Shravan, Kartik, Margashirsha, and Vaishakh [1][3][5]. These eight days are the only ones with direct scriptural authority for this type of festival-related prohibition. While some regional traditions have added other days, such as the Bhadarva (Bhadrapada) Purnima, bringing the total to ten days in some areas, these additions are considered mere tradition without original scriptural proof [1]. The core eight days are the ones mentioned in the sutras, and studying on them incurs the prescribed atonement (*prayashchitta*) [1]. The eight-day duration also aligns with the tradition of the eight-day festival (*Ashtanhika*) celebrated in honor of the Chakra Ratna, as described in the Jambudveep Pragnapti, where King Bharat ordered an eight-day grand festival [2].

In Jainism, root vegetables (kanda-mula) are forbidden primarily because they are **anantkay** — beings that house countless infinite lives (anant-anant jiva) within them at all times. Eating them causes the destruction of an immense number of living beings, and even a single root vegetable contains infinite organisms, so consuming it results in the killing of infinite souls [2]. This is why scriptures like the *Traivarnikachar* explicitly list items such as lotus stalks, *suran* (elephant foot yam), radish, ginger, and other root vegetables as to be renounced for life, noting that the nutritional benefit is small while the violence (himsa) is enormous [2]. Additionally, the *Sthananga Sutra* explicitly prohibits "mool-bhojan" (root food), "kanda bhojan" (tuber food), and similar categories as part of the ascetic's dietary code [5]. The *Tattvartha Sutra* also lists eating any vegetable that possesses life as a transgression of the *Bhogopabhogaparimana vrata* (limited enjoyment vow) [3]. The core reason is the Jain principle of *Ahimsa* (non-violence): because roots, tubers, and bulbs are the very source of a plant's regeneration and teem with life, uprooting them destroys countless organisms and the plant itself, making them unacceptable for those committed to minimizing harm.

According to the Jain scriptures, Lord Mahavir's height was **seven cubits (सात हाथ)** tall [1][2][3]. A cubit is an ancient unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, typically around 18–21 inches (45–53 cm). Therefore, seven cubits would roughly translate to approximately **10.5 to 12.25 feet (3.2 to 3.7 meters)** tall. The scriptures also describe his body as having a *sam-chaturasra* (perfectly symmetrical) structure with a *vajra-rishabh-narach* constitution, meaning his joints were perfect and exceptionally strong [1][2][3]. His complexion was fair, like a line of gold or the pollen of a lotus [2][3].

Yes, Jains can eat cauliflower. Jainism's dietary rules focus on minimizing violence (ahimsa) toward living beings, and the tradition categorizes plants as one-sensed organisms, which involve the least degree of violence compared to animals or insects [5]. Cauliflower is an above-ground vegetable, so it is generally acceptable in Jain diets. However, some Jains avoid root vegetables like onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes because they believe root vegetables contain more life and involve greater violence when harvested [1]. Cauliflower does not fall into this category, so it is considered permissible. The core principle is that Jains avoid meat, fish, eggs, and animal products, and they strive to minimize harm to all life forms while eating vegetarian food [1][2].