________________
Biology in Jaina Treatise on Real
(ii) Physique-making-karma of corresponding limbs and minor limbs and (iii) Physique-making-karma of corresponding class of sense as in the case of one-sensed beings. (c) The meanings of different terms in the aphorism and justification of plural number there have also been mentioned. 2. The aphorism classifies the mobile beings on the basis of senses observed in them. Accordingly, there are four classes of mobile beings whose typical representative names are given in the text as below: S.No. Class
Senses Names of Senses Worms
Touch and taste 2. Ants
3 Touch, taste, smell 3. Bees
Touch, taste, smell, sight Human beings
Touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing. The word 'etc.' has been applied to every class. This means that all the classes and subclasses of worms etc. are included. It has been pointed out (aphorism 2.14) earlier that other texts have mentioned many names under each category. They are specially mentioned in early Svetāmbara, texts. These are also mentioned in later Digambara texts. 3. The gradation of the living beings here should be taken with reference to the senses in general. However, Pt. Sukhlalji seems to be right when he indicates that the senses here refer predominantly the physical ones based on the realisation of physique-making karma of class. But P.C. Shastri has a differing opinion. He points out the reference to predominantly psychical senses. Otherwise, there will be no senses in the living beings under transmigratory motion. They have only psychical senses. Secondly, he also refers the case of living beings under 13-14th spiritual stages where they are also called fivesensed. Thus, he opines that this classification is based on psychical senses.
However, the scientists would prefer the first opinion as they do not have positive concept about the transmigratory motion. It is also supported by the fact that all the psychical senses have been assumed to be occurring in all the living beings. Moreover, it is observed that many phenomena like the classification of mattergy, concept of non-contactility of eye, sense-content of different living beings described in canons are based on the physical senses alone. 4. The current biological classification is not based on senses. It moves from water-born to land-born species with gradual development of many characters like noto-chord etc. It is observed that most of the 2-4-sensed classes are invertebrates and have five senses, in some cases not fully developed but in most cases specific cells functioning. Barring few cases, all the mobile beings have at least physical mind (brain) which makes them not only canonically fivesensed but instinctive also. Jnānavindu Prakaraņa mentions that these living beings have fine brain (i.e. not fully developed as in men) capable of motor
125
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
