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 192

The Organisation of the Human Body
181
of pores or hair follide in the skin. 12 Women have got eleven orifices including two breats, 13
The function of the excretory system is to cause the elimination of carbon dioxide (apana or pihvāsa )14 one of the inost important metabolic wastes ; made by the lungs15 ( Phopphas ), of bile (pitta ), the break down products of Hemoglobin, the liver (yakrt)16 and the excretion of faces ( Purisa, etc. by the colon. (Thūlaṁta ).17
The sweat glands or pores ( romakūpas )18 are "primarily” concerned with the regulations of body temperature, 19 according to modern Biology but they also serve the purpose of excreting certain per cent of all metabolic wastes (as sveda),20 “Sweat contains the same substances (salt, urea and other organic compounds) as urine”21
The kidney and its dacts :
Mention of Tanuyamta with its function of producing urine22 and the excretion of urine (mütra ) through the genital22 (one of the nine orifices of the body ) suggests clearly that the Jainācāryas had some knowledge of kidneys and their ducts. It is stated in the Tandula Veyāliya that Taņuyamta transforms ( produces) urine. Some adhogāmini sirās (ducts rising from the umbilican region) cause the excretion of urine.23 In support of the Jaina view on the kidneys and their functions, Visuddhimagga explains that “kidney (Vakkaṁ) is situated
12. Kalyāṇakāraka, 3.5 13. "Ikkārasa soyā itthiya" 16, p.35.
"Pūrvoktāni nava stanadvayayuktányekādaśa śrotaņi strināņi bhavanti," Ibid. (Comm.. p. 38. Tandula Veyaliya, 16, (ye se taņuyamta tena pasavanta
pariņamai ) 14. Tattvārthāvadhigama Sūtra v. 19 ; Tandula Veyaliya, 4, p. 8. 15. Tandula Veyaliya 17, p. 38. 16. Ibid, 16. 17. 17. Kalyāṇakārska 3.4. 18. Tandula Veyāliya, 16, Kalyāṇakäraka 3.4. 19. Tandula Veyaliya 16, p. 35. 20. Biology, p. 330. 21. Kalyāṇakāraka 3.12 (Svedarn vamati romakūpaiḥ ) 22. "Je se taṇuyamte teņam päsvane pariņamai /” Tandula Veyaliya 16, p. 35. 23. "Navasoe", Ibid.
(U)pastha", Ibid. (Comm.), p. 38. Dvārāṇyathātrāpi navaiva dehe / Kalyāņakāraka 3.5 ; 3.11 ; 3.12.