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 43

Jaina Biology
“When a cell is placed in a fluid with the same osmotic pressure as its own, water does not enter or leave the cell (i. e. the cell neither swells nor shrinks.) "37
Tissues (Peśis )38 :
A tissue is a group or layer of similarly specialized cells. According to the histology, “each kind of tissue is composed of cells which have a characteristic size, shape and arrangement."39 “ Tissues may consist of more than living cells; blood and connective tissue, for example, contain some non-living material between the cells.”40
Animal Tissues :
According to Jaina histology, animal tissues may be classified into six groups, viz. epithelia (ajina41 = carma = skin tissue ), connective (ṇhāruņi),42 muscular (māmsapesi ),43 blood ( sónita 44 or asrg )45, nervous (dhamani and sira )46 and reproductive (Sukra and oja = Sperm and egg ova ),47 as they are found in modern Biology.48
Epithelial Tissues :
Epithelial tissues have not been discussed by the Jainācāryas in details. But it is suggestive from the reference to the skin of animal49 and lakhs of pores (romakupa 50 in the skin of the body of man that epithelial tissues are composed of cells which form a continuous layer or sheet covering the body surface or living cavities within the body. They may have one or more of the following functions, viz. protection, absorption, secretion and sensation (of touch ). The epithelia of the 37. Ibid. 38. “Abbuyā jāyae pesi, pesio ya ghaņam bhave/" Tandulaveyaliya, Sūtra 2, p. 6. 39. Biology, p. 46. 40. Ibid. 41. Sūtrakrtānga, Srutaskandha II, Adhyayana 2, Sūtra 18; Bhagavati Sūtra 1.7.61;
Tandulaveyal ya 3, p. 7. 42. Sūtrakrtānga, Śrutaskandha II, Adhyayana 2, Sūtra 18. 43. Sūtrakstāngā, Srutaskaodha II, Adhyayana 2, Sūtra 18; Tanduiaveyaliya 2, p. 6. 44. Ācārānga, Book II, 4; Sutrakrtānga, Sruta skandha II, Adhyayana 2, Sūt a 18;
Bhagavati Sūtra, 1.7.6'; Tandulaveyaliya, 2. p. 6. 45. Lokaprakāśa, Pt. I, 3rd Sarga, Vy. 18-19. 46. Tandulaveyaliya Sūtra 2, p. 6. 47. “Duhao vi sineham samciņa mti /” (Sūtra, 56 ); Sūtrakrtānga, Srutaskandha II,
Adhyayanā ?; "Te jivā maouyam piusukkaṁ ta m tadubhyam samsattham kalusan/"
Bhagavati Sūtra 1.7.61; Sūtrakrtanga II.3.56. 48. Biology p. 46. 49. Sūtrākstānga, II, 2, 18; Bhagavati Sūtra 1.7.61; Tandula Veyaliya, 3, p. 7. 50. Tandula Veyaliya, 2, p. 6.