Jain Biology

SR No.: 006905
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 152
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 63

In Biology, all the living organisms are divided into two kingdomsAnimal Kingdom and Vegetable Kingdom-and in the (Jain) scriptures all the living organisms are divided into two domains-Mobile and Immobile.
(a) The Immobile Organisms (Sthāvaras) which are devoid of the ability of locomotion and
(b) The Mobile Organisms (Trasa) which are endowed with the ability of locomotion.
The Scriptures further classify living organisms from several different aspects such as gati, jāti, kāya etc.
On the basis of Gati (order of existence), there are four types: (1) sub-humans (2) Humans (3) Denizens of hell (4) Denizens of Heaven.
Another aspect of classification is Jati which refers to the number of sense-organs possessed by the organism. Thus there would be:
(1) Organisms possessing one sense-organ (2) Organisms possessing two sense-organs (3) Organisms possessing three sense-organs
(4) Organisms possessing four sense-organs
(5) Organisms possessing five sense-organs
Yet another aspect of classification is the characteristics of the body (kāyā) possessed by the organism. In this case we would have:
(1) Organisms with molecules of Earth as the body - Pṛthvikāya (2) Organisms with molecules of Water as the body - Apakāya (3) Organisms with molecules of Fire as the body - Taijasakāya (4) Organisms with molecules of Air as the body - Vāyukāya (5) Organisms with parts of Plants as the body- - Vanaspatikāya (6) Mobile organisms with organic molecules as the body - Trasakāya
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Ekendriya
Dvindriya
Trīndriya
Caturindriya
Pañcendriya
JAIN BIOLOGY