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

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Jaina Biology
organism may provide food or shelter for another 10 or produce some substance harmful to the second.11
The Classifications of Living Substances
The Jaipācāryas have tried to set up systems of classifications based on natural relationships, 12 putting into a single group those organisms which are closely related in their evolutionary origin.13 Since many of the structural similarities 14 depend on evolutionary relations, 15 classification of organisms is similar in many respects to the one of the principles based on logical structural similarities, 16 that is to say, species, genus, and phyla. Many plants and animals fall into easily recognizable, natural groups and their classification presents no difficulty.
The vedic sages also have described and classified plants and animals. The Vedic Index vf Names and Subjects of Macdonell and Keith 17 and Vanaspali 18 of Mazumdar reveal a large number of plants and animals
water", Biology, p. 30. It is a remarkable fitness of the organism for the place in which it lives, e. g. water for aquatic animals and plants, land for terrestrial animals and plants, and air for aerial beings. It is suggestive from this fact of fitness of the organism for the habitats in which they live that they are interacting and interdepedent parts of large units for survival as evidenced by a cose study
of Ahāraniksepa (Knowledge of food ) in the Sūtrakrtänga II, 3.43-62. 10. Sūtrakstānga II, 3.43-62. 11. Bhagavati Sūtra 8.2.316. 12. e. g. eke ndriya, dvindriya, trindriya, caiurindriya and pañcendriyo organisms are
classified on the basis of a.tural relationships. Similarly, Jalacara and Khecara organisms are classified according to their natural relationship, as they are
closely related in their evolutionary origin. 13. Sūtrakstānga, II. 3; Jivabhigamasútra, 3.1.96; Bhagavati Sūtra 7.5.282 ( andaja,
potaja and sammürccibma; Uttaradhyayana Sūtra. 36.171 ff; Jivabhigama Sutra, 33 1.34, 35; Paņņavanā Sutta. Jivapaņnavahā, Jalacara, Sthalacara and Khecara and Manusyaprajñāpanā ) 29-34. Aquatic, terrestrial and aerial organisms have been classified into three single groups as the members of each of them are closely related in their evolutionary origin. Bhagavati Sūtra 8.3.324, 7.3.277, 7.5.282; Jivābhigama Sūtra, 3.1.91, 1-33, 1-34, 1-35, 1-36; Uttaradhya yana Sūtra, 36.135, 144, 154, 169, 178, 179-186, 193, 202; Pannavanā Sūtra, Shalacaratirascam catuşpada-parisarpeti bhedadvayaḥ, p. 30, Catugpadanānekakşurădik suradi bhedacatuṣkaṁ, p. 30. Gandípadānám hastipūyanaya (di )ādinamakadambakam. p. 31, Sanakhapadānām, vyāghradinūmakad
ambakar, p. 31, etc. (contents ; Tattvārthasūtra 2.24, 34. 15. Ibid. 16. Ibid. 17. Macdonell, A. A., and Keith, A. B., Vedic Index of Names and Subjects I and
II, John Murray, London, 1912. 18. Mazun. dar, Vanaspati, University Press, Culcutta, 1 927, pp. 234-254.
14.