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30. Some References To Human Physiology In
Jain Scriptures
In Jain scriptures we get information about different subjects like Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Geography and Cosmology. Similarly we also get some references to Human Physiology i.e. the physical structure of human body.
Jain scriptures on Karma-philosophy such as Karmagrantha of þri Dēvēndrasūri, Karmaprakrti of Upadhyāya sri Yaśāvijayaji and cosmological treatises like Lokaprakāśa and Brhatsangrahani give us an idea of different types of bone-joints.' The technical word, used in the Jain scriptures for bone-joints, is Sanghayana. The names of bone-joints are as follows: (1) Vajra-Rşabhanārāca (2) Rşabhanārāca (3) Nārāca (4) Ardhanārāca (5) Kilikā and (6) Sēvārtta
In the first bone-joint, Vajra-Rşabhanārāca, there are two Markatabandhas, one bandage and a bone-pin. Two Markața-bandhas are surrounded by a bandage of bone and a bone-pin passes through the bandage and two bones, which are joined. (fig. 1) Except a bone-pin, the second bone joint Rşabhanārāca Sanghayana is just like the first bonejoint. (fig.2) The Third bone-joint, Nārāca, is formed by only two Markațabandhas (fig. 3) while in the fourth bone-joint Ardhanārāca, there is only one Markața-bandhas. (fig. 4) In the fifth bone-joint Kilikā, two bones are joined with a bone-pin. (fig.5) And in the last i.e. the sixth Sēvārtta Sanghayana bones are attached to each other as shown in the figures 6 (A), (B) and (C).
According to the Jain treatises, at present we all possess the last Sēvārtta Sanghayana ? and that is why our bones move from their original position with a slight jerk. The first Sanghayana is the strongest bonejoint, while the last Sanghayana is the weakest bone-joint. Jain scriptures describe that the stronger the bone-joint, the better or worse work can be done by the animals or men. So only a possessor of the first type of bonejoint, i.e. he, who has Vajra-Rsabhanārāca Sanghayana. can free himself from the bondage of karma. i.e. he can attain emancipation, and due to
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