Ahimsa the Science of Peace

Author(s): Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 64

stant moisture and are close relatives of green algae. The compound used in this intake of energy in the form of hydrogen is chlorophyll. Some of these algae, which are blue green, have developed a strange lime oozing form.
The blue-green pillars of Hamelin Pool are living stromolites and the group of them standing on the sun dappled sea floor are as close as we may ever get to a scene from the world of two thousand million years ago. They are living organisms that secrete lime, forming strong cushions near the shores of the pool and teetering columns at greater depths; an organism that produces a skeleton of stone and lives in an environment where deposits of ooze and sand are being laid down. (These may be the Prithvikaya or earth beings).
The most primitive life-like forms that share plant characteristics are also smallest viruses. Bacteria, which also cannot be seen with the naked eye, are closer to true plants. Algae that are microscopic can be seen only when they grow in great colonies in fresh or salt water, in soil or hot springs, on other plants or animals or even on snow, while the large algae are the familiar seaweeds. (These could be the Vanaspatikaya or plant beings).
The next jump in the evolution of life forms came with the forination of Protozoa. Although they are single cells they are much more complex than the bacteria. This is the starting point of purposeful movement, communal life at microscopic level, absorption of food more complex than single elements like hydrogen, sexuality etc. From this point onwards the rate of evolution accelerated and more and more complex forms evolved. This micro world of mono-cellular organisms continues to exist in almost all stages of its evo
AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE 21 Jain Education International