Jaina Biology

SR No.: 001543
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Total Pages: 340
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Science, Biology, & Philosophy
File Size: 19 MB

Page 184

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The Organisation of the Human Body Gastro-Intestinal Iract (Amta )44
There are stated to be two intestines (amta ) viz. small intestine (tanuyamta) and large intestine (thūlasta).45 According to Visuddhimagga, antam starts from the oesophagus to the rectum, “like the carcase of a large beheaded rat - snake coiled up and put into a trough of blood”. 46 "This bowel tube looped in twenty one places is thirty two hands (cubits) long in men and twenty eight in women. It is white in colour like the lime mixed with sand."47
Jaina Biology states that tanuyaṁta having the length of five vāmās transforms urine, 48 while thūlamta having the same length traasforms stool (uccāra ).49 It is difficult to identify tanuyamta of Jaina Biology with the small intestine of modern Biology on the basis of its function of transforming (producing) urine, for it is the function of kidney to produce urine, according to the latter. Thula ṁta can be easily identified with the large intestine of modern Biology as per its function of transforming (producing) stool out of indigestible matter carried from the small intestine. "Some water is absorbed in the small intestine” that tanuyaṁta have the function of producing of urine in addition to absorption of molecules of nutrients. But it may be identical with kidney of modern Biology on the basis of its function. The Small Intestine ( Tanuyamta )50
The small intestine is a coiled tube into which the chyle passes by the force of peristalsic waves caused by air (vāhu) in the stomach ( udara or amoru). The greater part of the digestive process and almost all absorptions occur here as is suggested by the reference to “Pakkāśaya”51 (the deudenum) the first segments of the intestine-orga a for cooking, i. e. digesting food with pācakaśakti52 (digestive power )
44. Tandula Veyalıya, 16 p. 36. 45. Ibid. 46. Visuddhimagga, XI. 64.
"Antan galavățakakarisamaggapariyanta sarirabbantare hitan. Tatha, yatha
lohitadoņikāya obhañjitva thapiţe chinnasiradharanikalevate etc." 47. "Antan ti purisassa dvattiy sahatthay, itthiya afthavisatiháttan ekavisatiyā thanesu
obhagga antavātthi etc.” Visuddhimagga VIII 18. "Do amta Pamcavāmá ..... tatthā ņam je se taņuyamte Ten raṁ pasavaņe
parıņamai" ; Tandula Veyaliya ; 16, p. 35. Kalyāṇakāraka, 3.4. 49. “Tattha nam je se thulamte teņa uccăre pariņamai", Ibid. 50. Tandula Veyāliya, 16. p. 3'; 51. Tattvärthadhigama Sūtra 2.43 ( Comm. ) p. 212 52. Tandula Veyaliya 4, Kalyanakäraka 3.7.
48.