________________
(22) Anantkaya : There are two kinds of vegetables (plantlife) : (i) Individual (Pratyek) and (ii) Aggregate (Sadharan). The individual vegetable has one life in one article. The fruit, flowers, peel, trunk, wood, root and seed of such a tree has each a separate life (Jiva). It is called Pratyek Vanaspatikaya-Individual Pinat Life. Aggregate Plant Life is nothing else but Anantkaya. A vegetable which contains innumerble living beings is called 'Sadharana' of Aggregate Plant life. In Jivavichar Prakaran, its characteristics are mentioned as follows :
Aggregate plant-life is a plant with hidden venis, joints, tissues etc. That plant can be cut into two equal parts and they grow again after begin cut and resewed. Thus Anantkaya consists of infinite living beings. By abstaining from eating it, we get the merit (Punya) of saving the lives of infinite living beings. We are not endowed with the sense of taste (tongue) to kill these innumerable living beings. If we do so for enjoying taste, we shall get no organ of taste (tongue) in our next birth.
Why not resort to a diet that abstains from destroying many a life and we shall have to wander in Anantkayas for an indefinite period of time. Hence, these must not be eaten.
NAMES OF THIRTY-TWO ANANTKAYAS : 1. Bhumikand (tubers)
2. Green Haldar (termeric) 3. Green Ginger
4. Yam (Suran) 5. Yam (Vajra)
6. Green Kachuro 7. Shatavari Creeper
8. Virali Creeper 9. Kunver pathu
10. Cactus 11. Galo
12. Garlic 13. Bamboo Karela
14. Carrot (Gajar) 15. Luni (Bhaji)
16. Lodhak 17. Garmar
18. Kisalaya (sprout) 19. Khirsua yam
20. Theg 21. Green moth
22. Bark of Lun tree 23. Khiloda tuber
24. Amrit Creeper 25. Five parts of radish (Mula) 26. Fungi (Biladina Top) 27. Vathula Bhaji
28. Sprouted pulses 29. Palak Bhaji
30. Suarvali 31. Unripe amali
32. Alu, rataloo, pindaloo
(tubers)
58
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
