Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals

SR No.: 001656
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 210
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Biology
File Size: 13 MB

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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
(ii) realisation of all-destroying supervariforms of all the other remaining senses (iii) the attainment of physique-making karma of limbs and minor limbs and (iv) the realisation of physique-making karma of one-sensed class. Supplementary Notes 1. The commentary deals with the following points : (a) There are many meanings of the word 'anta' in Sanskrta. Here it means 'ending'. The ending also involves the beginning. Thus, the earth, water, fire, air and plants have one sense only- and that too the sense of touch (as the word 'one' here means the first sense only). (b) The manifestation of the first sense of touch has been pointed out to be due to many concurrent karmic causes involving the processes of destructioncum-subsidence and realisation of different species of karmas and their supervariforms. 2. This aphorism has different rendering in S-version because they have mobility-based classification of the living beings under their aphorism 2.13 and 2.14. They have the rendering which means that the living beings upto airbodied ones are one-sensed. This meaning is the same as in aphorism 2.22 here in this text. The fire and air were included in the same aphorism 2.13. 3. Nine classes of the living beings are described in aphorisms 2.13 and 2.14- 5 non-mobiles and 4 2-5-sensed beings. The aphorisms 2.22-23 describe their sense-based classification. 4. The earth-bodied, water-bodied, air-bodied, fire-bodied and plantbodied are 1-sensed living beings under non-weapon-operated or natural state. 5. Their sense mentioned here is the physical sense only. With respect to psychical sense, all these living beings have all the five senses. However, they are unable to function without the corresponding physical senses perceptibly.
The psychical senses are dormant senses. If the existing senses are sensitive enough, they serve the purpose of all the other senses. 6. The sense-based classification indicates that there is a gradual order of development of the physical senses one by one. The quality and quantity of livingness of different beings depend on this development. It has been quantified by Mardia.
The livingness in plants has not only been scripturally indicated in Acāränga through nine points, but it has also been confirmed scientifically. The other 1-sensed beings have also the livingness as they show its signs through following observations : (i) The earth and crystal etc. grow and decay.
Fire, air and water have motion or kinetic energy as a sign of life.
The total animistic concept of the Jainas is not confirmed by the scientists because of their simpler structures in contrast with that of the complex cellular structure found in plants and animals. However, they have been
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