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For correlating the Jaina views with the modern Zoological and Botanical sciences, Wikipedia website and the book ret (M 3,2)' of Dr. V.M.Apte helped us a lot. With the above thought process, the title of this paper was decided which is -
Revealing the Scientific Nature of the Jaina Concept 'Sammūrochima' (Agglutination)
1. Types of birth according to Jaina philosophy
This research paper primarily focuses on the places of birth and specifically on the birth of living beings. Hence we will discuss in detail about birth. Tattvārthasūtra mentions -
सम्मूर्च्छनगर्भोपपाता जन्म 12 Means there are three types of birth - i) by womb ii) by descent iii) by agglutination (of material particles)
i) Birth by womb
This process of birth is related to sexual relationship. The physical body (or foetus) is formed in the mother's womb when a sperm (from semen) meets the ovum. There are namely three subtypes of birth by womb -
a) viviparous animals (jarāyuja) b) oviparous animals (andaja) c) vertebrates without placenta (potaja)
ii) Birth by descent
Birth by descent is without parents and with a fully developed body.
iii) Birth by agglutination
This is a form of asexual reproduction where sperms and ovum do not meet. In this type, the soul absorbs the material particles that lie at the spot of its birth and uses the power of its
karma to convert them into an agglutinated body."
Out of these, birth by womb is well-known. Birth by descent is characteristic of infernal beings and gods. Birth by agglutination is a peculiar concept in Jaina philosophy. Nearly 70% of the total beings are born by agglutination. Still we do not find detailed description of the process of agglutination in these texts.
2. Concept of 'agglutinated beings', according to Jaina philosophy i) How 'birth by agglutination differs from 'birth by womb'?
Four instincts of each living beings are enumerated in Jainaism. 'Sex' is one of them. This instinct is expressed in each living being through reproduction. Each living being reproduces because it wants to exist. Reproduction is related to sexual relationship where there is birth by
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