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J. C. Sikdar
anotherto or produce some substance harmful to the second, 11
The classifications of Living Substances.
The Jainācāryas have tried to set up systems of classifications based on natural relationships, putting into a single group those organisms which are closely related in their evolutionary origin.13 Since many of the structural similaritiesld depend on evolutionary relations, 15 classification of organisms is similar in many respects to the one of the principles based on logical structural similarities16, that is to say, species, genus, and phyla. Many plants and animals fall into easily recognizeable, natural groups, and their classification presents no difficulty.
The Vedic sages also have desrcibed and classified plants and animals. The Vedic Index of Nanies and Subjects of Macdonell and Keith17 and Vanaspatits of Mazımdar reveal large number of plants and animals (see also Aiyer),19 the equivalent scientific names of which have been given
10. Sutrakytānga 11. 3. 43-62. 11. Bhagavali 8. 2. 316. 12. e. g. ekendriya, dvandriya, trindriya, caturindriya, and pancendriya organisms are
classified on the basis of natural relationships. Similarly, Jalacara and Khecara organisms are classified according to their natural relationships, as they are closely
related in their evolutionary orgin. 13. Sätrakttānga II. 3. Jivābhigamasutra 3 1. 96.
Bhagavatt 7. 5. 282, (andaju, potaja and sammurcchima) Uttaradhyayana 36 171 ff. Jivābhigama 33 1. 34, 35. Pannavani, Juvapamnovanā, Jalacara, Sthalacara Khecara and Manu sj'aprajñāpanā 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. 14. Bhagavati 8.3.324; 7.3.277; 7.5.282.
Jivabhigama 3.1.91; 33. 1-34, 1-35, 1-36. Uttaradhyayana 36.135; 144, 154, 169, 178, 179, 186, 193, 202. Panrayana Sthalacaratirascan caluşpada-parisarpeti bhedadvayam, p. 37. Catuspadanāmekak; uradvik surīdibledacatuṣkam p. 30. Gandi padanan hasti-payaram (de) ādināmakadambakam, p. 31. Sanakhapadanam sinhavya ghrādināmakadambakan p. 31, etc. (contents). Tattyārta
sätra 2,24,31, 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. Mazumdar, l'anospati, University Press, Calcutta, 1927, pp. 234-254. 19. Aiyer, A. K, Y. N., Agriculture and Allied Arts in Vedic India, Bangalore Press,
Bangalore, pp. 33-45, 1940.