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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
'Sacitta' should, thus, have a little bit modified meaning in the present state of our knowledge. 8. The currently accepted cellular genesis of life assumes livingness all the times during the growth of the living species in their birth places since inception. Even in case of five-sensed beings, the semen cannot be said to be non-living as it contains cells and all the genetic code for growth. Thus, Yasodhara Carita does seem anomalous to proclaim that the transmigrating living may enter the womb even after a week of sperm-ovum fusion and that a father may become his own son. 9. There are the following differing opinions on some issues in different scholarly versions:
TSB
hot-cum-cold
living
Birthplace of uterine-born Male semen Female blood Female ovum
RV 3 types non-living non-living living
living living
10. The shape-based birth places have three types based on the three types of shape, most probably for the uterine-birth category. They are as below: (a) Conchlike circular
abortive birth Tortoise-shaped
birth of greatmen,
kings, saints (c) Flat-shaped (bamboo leaf)
common men In contrast, the current zoologists agree to five types of vaginal shape- (i) flat (ii) duplex (iii) bi-partite (iv) bi-caramate and (v) simplex. A compative study is necessary.
The above description about nine types of birth places in three types of birth would suggest that all the living beings are born through all the three types of birth. This is not desirable. The following aphrisms 2.33-35 are intended to descirbe the different types of births of different types of the living beings:
Jarāyuja-andaja-potānām Garbhah
2.33 The umbilical, incubatory and un-umbilical beings have utrine birth. In other words, the uterine birth has three varieties- umbilical (with sac covering, viviparous), un-umbilical (without sac covering) and incubatory (oviparous, egg-born)].
The web-like covering filled with flesh and blood surrounding the developing being in the womb is known as the outer skin or sac covering (Jarāyu).
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