Jain Journal 2013 07

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

Page 24

K.G. Sheshadri : Insects in ancient jain literature and culture
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Several other Vedic texts like Brahmanas, Upanishads also have information on insects'. The Taītirīya Aranyaka“ mentions 7 orders of bees or flies namely Maksika, Bhramarah, Ksudrah, Puttikah, Chatraḥ, Uddālakaḥ, dālaḥ, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa' refers to insects like Indragopa (4.28.14), silkworm-Kosakāraṇa (4.40.23), Damśa wildgnats, Vrschika [2.25.18], mosquito Maśaka and șațcaraņa (a bee). (4.21.33). The Amarakaśa' also refers to flies, beetles, bees, hornets, moths, ants, glow worms.
Kālidāsa's works are rich in description of various insects. He mentions more than 18 insects in his various poems and plays. Some of them are mentioned largely in Raghuvassa [9.44-45] like Ali, bees like Bhramara, Madhukara, Dvirepha [3.8;5.43;6.7;7.11], insects that annoy cattle like damsa [2.5), lac insect - Lākṣa [16.15). Centipedes [6.69), insects which have arrow shaped mouth and can sense smell of ichor from elephants like Sīlimukha [4.57].
The ļtusamhārak of Kālidāsa also recognizes insects like Ali [6.35], Bhramara [3.6), (lac insect) [1.5], silkworm (5.8]. The glow worm or fireflies Khadyota are mentioned in Meghadutao [5.21]. Swarms of locusts - salabha find a mention in Kālidāsa Abhijñāna śākuntala'' [1.30) as also termites Valmi [7.11].
Kālidāsa's works are rich in other Entomological information such as the Swarms of Ali flying after fragrant flowers [Kumārasambhava'' 4.15), sounds of Bhramara [Raghuvamsha 16.47, ytusamhāra [6.16; 6.29; 6.34]; courtship of bees (rtusamhāra 6.16,6.29]. The Sushruta Samhitāl2 and the commentary by dalhana flourishes rich information of ancient entomological science. It refers to an ancient text on insects “Kitakalpa” probably by Lord Dhanvantari classifying them as Vātaja, Pittaja, Sannipātaja and Kaphaja. It recognizes 6 kinds of ants-- [Sushruta Samhitā. Kalpa. 34], 6 kinds of flies (Kalpa.35], 5 kinds of mosquitoes (masaka), 4 types of hornets (kaņabha) [Kalpa-26], 8 types of centipedes (Kalpa, 30], almost a list of 30 varieties of scorpions [Kalpa, 56-65], 16 types