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7. Some References to Human Physiology in
Jaina Scriptures
In Jaina scriptures we get information about different subjects like Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Geography and Cosmology. Similarly we also get some references to Human Physiology i.e. the physical structure of human body. , Jaina scriptures on Karma-philosophy such as Karmagrantha of Sri Devendrasūri, Karmapraksti of Upadhyaya Yasovijay and cosmological treatises like Loka-prakās'a and Brhat-sangrahaņi give us an idea of different types of bone-joints. The technical word, used in the Jaina scriptures for bone-joints, is samghayana. The names of bone-joints are as follows: (1) vajrarṣabhandräca, (2) rsabhanaràca, (3) näráca, (4) ardha-nārāca, (5) Kilikā and (6) sevärta.
In the first bone-joint, vajrarṣabhanäräca, there are two markatbandhas, one bandage and a bone-pin. Two markat-bandhas are surrounded by a bandage of bone and a bone-pin passes through the bandage and two bones, which are joined. (fig. 1) Except a bone-pin, the second bone joint rsabhanāraca saṁghayana is just like the first bone-joint. (fig.2) The Third bone-joint, näräca, is formed by only two markat-bandhas (fig. 3) while in the fourth bone-joint ardha-nārāca, there is only one markaț-bandha. (fig.4) In the fifth bone-joint kilikā, two bones are joined with a bone-pin. (fig.5) And in the last i.e. the sixth sevärta samghayana bones are attached to each other as shown in the figures 6 (A), (B) and (C).
According to the Jaina treatises, at present we all possess the last sevärta saṁghayana> and that is why our bones move from their original position with a slight jerk. The first samghayana is the strongest bone-joint, while the last saṁghayana is the weakest bone-joint. Jaina scriptures describe that the stronger the bonejoint, the better or worse work can be done by the animals or men. So only a possessor of the first type of bone-joint, i.e. he, who has
