Jain Journal 2013 07

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

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JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLVIII, NO. 1-IV JULY 2013-JUNE 201
of plants that clearly belonged together was threatened because variation was discovered in an essential character. This set the stage for the second revolution in the history of systematics, the development of the Natural System in the late 1700s and early 1800s (Stevens, 2000). In this approach, taxa were recognized by over all resemblance in many characters, which were often chosen for their "importance" in the biology of the group in question. It is important to note that this evolution in systematics preceded the Darwinian revolution, and infact was prime evidence for Darwin to present in favor of evolution.
The study of animal kingdom as found in Jaina Agamas and post agamic works reveals that Jaina Biology is the science of living thing (Jivadravya) which is different from non-living thing (Ajivadravya). The thought of the world of life, including plants and animals began with the Jainācāryas on the basis of the concept of animism and non-violence (ahimsā) in the ancient past, along with the idea of the requirement of food to sustain life with a sense of spiritual value of life of all beings. They have studied the plant and animals with some carefully controlled observation and made a discovery in the world of life. They have recorded the result of their observations, made discussion on the conclusion to be drawn from them, perhaps formulated a theory to explain them and indicated the place of those biological facts in the present body of scientific knowledge contained in the Jaina Agamas and post agamic works, of course, without scientific verification of modern biology (Sikdar).
Canonically, there are difference between animals and human beings representing two separate destinies. In canons, two specific terms are used, the transverse movers termed astiryak/tiryancas and non-movers to denote animals and plants respectively, having 1-5 senses with or without mind. The human beings, on the other hand, belong to the class of 2-5 sensed beings transverse movers called mobiles or 'trasas'. Thus while canons differentiate between animals and human beings, the Zoological sciences do not as they presume evolutionary cancept of devolopment for different species.