I recently had a video chat with my uncle who is a quite strict & dedicated Jain householder on the rules and various aspects of offering food to Jain monks aka “Gochari” as it is called. You can watch the video here. He also shared this image that is probably from a newspaper which lists down a few quick rules regarding offering food to Jain monks. (English translation below the image).

English translation (by me): (is a work in progress – will finish it in couple of days).

• It is said that offering food to monks with the proper emotions (bhaav) one gets the sixth part of aradhana.
• Naisar – something something achieved samyak darshan through offering food to monks (Naisar is a previous birth of Mahavir Swami; this story is covered in my video shared above).
• Give the offering with faith, right emotions (bhaav) and without expecting anything in return. This would result in excellent spiritual benefit (merit) and very good shedding of karmic bondage
• At the time of Gochari – the house should be open and the householder should be watching the road because the monk can’t ring the bell. And the householder themselves should go and show/welcome the monk into the house, it should not be left to the servants or priests or others.
• When you hear “dharma labh” , stand up with respect and say “padhaaro.. padhaaro (welcome… welcome)”
• On small stool (patla) put a thali and put maharaj saheb vessel in that – though practically I have not seen this happen. So this is probably not a compulsory requirement, but a recommended one.
• Everyone in the house should make use of this golden opportunity. Even small kids should be asked to offer food, so they get that experience/habit in future.
• when the monk arrives, light/fans/TV/gas/radio etc. can’t be switched off or on.
• One should keep the TV/radio closed when one thinks monks might come for gochari. Don’t wash hands with unboiled water.
• New utensils need not be used. Offer such that nothing falls down or gets wasted.
• If we speak like the menu items for them, they have to ask and take something. So it is better to offer each item to them and request them to take …
• Offering while wearing shoes is considered disrespectful. Offer only half a banana and don’t remove the full skin while offering.
• Don’t think/remember the monks before making the food. And don’t forget them after making the food.
• Aadhakarmi – don’t make the food for the monks.
• While cooking, you can’t make more for the monks. You can’t offer if you are touching Vegetables/Fruits/Fire/Unboiled Water when the monks arrive
• Don’t blow on hot milk (too cool it) while offering

Sorry for any mistakes while translating. Michchami Dukkadam.