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 228

The Organisation of the Human Body
All these five sense-organs are individually an innumerableth part of an angula (finger) by thickness (bahalla), while ear is an innumerableth part by width (pohatta ), thus upto that of the eye and nose; the tongue is one angula (finger) by width (pohatta); and the skin is equal to the extent of the body. These five sense organs are endowed with infinite units (ananta-pradeśikas) and immersed in countless space-points (asamkhyeyaprade savagadha ). The least of all these is the eye.83
The capacity of apprehending objects by internal nirvrtti formation is called upakaranendriya.84
Bhavendriya ( psychic sense-organ) is of two kinds, viz. labdhirupa (mental faculty-like) and upayogarupa (consciousness-like).85 The kṣayopasama of Matijñānāvarana - the particular capacity of consciousness is called labdhirupabhavendriya. The pravrtti (action) which takes place in the apprehension of objects by soul according to this labdhirupabhāvendriya is called upayoga-rupa bhavendriya.86
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According to the Buddhist Philosophy, "The translucent matter of sense-organs (rūpaprasada) is very subtle; it is like the shining of a jewel, it cannot be cut in two,87 it cannot be burnt,88 it has no weight89, it disappears without a residue at death 90 It is nevertheless atomic, and is represented by five different kinds of atoms. The atoms of the organ of sight (eaksurindriya) cover in concentric circles the eye-ball. The atoms of the organ of taste. or, more precisely that matter which is supposed to convey the sensation of taste, covers in concentric semicircles the tongue. The atoms of the organs of touch (kayendriya) cover the whole body.91 The idea that all these different kinds of special matter are, indeed, the same translucent subtle stuff covering 83. Pannavana Sutta 15, Indriyapada, appa bahudaraṁ p. 166.
84. TS., Pt. I. p. 164.
85
"Labdhyupayogau bhavendriyam". TS,, II. 18, p. 166.
86. Labdhirûpayogastu bhavendriyam bhavati / labdhirnāma gatijatyādināmakarmajanita tadavaraṇiyakarmakṣayopasamajanita ca / indriyāgrayakarmodayanirvṛtta ca jivasya bhavati /", TS., Bha. p. 166.
87. "Chinatti chidyate caiva bahyam' dhatu catuṣṭayam Dahyate tulayatyevaṁ vivado dagdhṛtulyayoḥ //", Abh. K., 1.36 Tibetan, Text, p. 63; Abh. K. 1.36. Yasamitra Comm. 1.36.
88. Abh. K., 1.36, Tibetan, Text. p. 63.13.
89. Ibid.
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