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Some References to Human Physiology in
Jaina Scriptures MUNI NANDIGHOSHA VIJAY
In Jaina scriptures we get information of 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 Devendrasuri, Karmapraksti of Upadhyaya Yasovijay and cosmological treatises like Loka-prakāśa and Brhat-samgrahani give us an idea of different types of bone-joints.1 The technical words, used in the Jaina scriptures for bone-joints, is saṁghayana. The names of bonejoints are as follows : (1) vajrarṣabhanārāca, (2) rşabhanārāca, (3) nārāca, (4) ardha-nārāca, (5) kilikā and. (6) sevärta,
In the first bone-joint, vajrar şabhanārāca, there are two markatbandhas, one bandage and a bone-pin. Two markaț-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 ?şabhanārācá sāmghayana is just like the first bone-joint. (Fig. 2) The Third bone-joint, nārāca, is formed by only two markat-bandhas. (Fig. 3) While in the fourth bone-joint ardhanārāca, there is only one markat-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 sevārta saṁghayaņa bones are attached to each other as shown in the Figures 6 (A), (B) and (C).
According to the Jaina treatises, at the present time, we all possess the last sevārta samghayana2 and that is why our bones move from their original position with a slight jerk. The first saṁghayana is the strongest
1 samghayanamatthi nicao tam chaddhavajjarisainarayam
tai risainarayam narayam addhanarayam kilio chevattham iha risaho patto a kilia vajjam ubhao makkatta bandho narayam ima muralange
--Devendra Suri, Karma Grantha, I. verses 38-39. Lokaprakasa (Sri Vinayavijaya), Pt. I, sarga 3; verses 398-408. Brhat Samgrahani (Sri Candrasuri), verses 159-160.
Karma-prakrti, Commentary on the first verse by Sri Yasovijaya. 2 sampai khalu auso ! manuyanam chevatthe samghayane vattai
– Tandulaveyaliya-payanna, p. 27.
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