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Insects In Ancient Jain Literature
And Culture
K.G. Sheshadri* INTRODUCTION
The science of Entomology deals with various insects their behaviour and so on. The prominence of the Insect world has been recognized from the ancient times that it is not surprising to find them recorded in the literature. Such Entomological information has been recorded ever since the Vedic times. The rgveda' itself records various insects that are of various kinds. It speaks of ant species like Upajihvika (RV 8.102.21), Pluși (RV 1.191.1), some types of bees like Ārangara (RV 10.106.10), Makșa (RV 1.162.9), Sarah (RV1.112.21), grasshoppers--Trņaskandha (RV 1.172.3), Kankața - Scorpion (RV 1.191.1), and stinging insects-Sūcikā (RV 1.191.7) so on. However, it is the Atharvavedaể that is richer in its contribution to Entomology. It quotes the Ant species - Upajihvika (2.3.4) grain insect borer - Tarda (AV.6.50.1-2), winged insect patanga (6.50.1), fly - Makşaka (AV. 11.1.2), Mosquito- Maśaka (AV. 7.56.3,4.36.9), another insect Alpaśayu (4.36.9), those injurious to seeds - Upakvasa (6.50.2), grain insect - Jabhya (AV.6.50.2). Some of the hymns of Atharvaveda concern control of insect pests of crops. It recognizes the sages Atri, Kanva, Jamaqagni and Agastya to be the ancient entomologists whose hymng if chanted destroy bacteria
atrivad vaḥ krimayo hanmi kanvavajjamadagnivat/ agastyasya brahmaṇā sampinaşmyaham kymin.//
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Ex-IISc. Proj. Asst with interests in ncient Indian Sciences RMV Clusters, Phase-2, Block-2, 5th floor, Flat No. 503, Devinagar, Lottegollahalli, Bangalore-560094, ph-+91-080-23415639 (Res) e-mail: kg sheshadri@yahoo.com
