Jain Journal 2013 07

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

Page 25

JAIN.JOURNAL: VOL-XLVIII, NO. 1-IV JULY 2013-JUNE 2014
of spiders (Lūta) classified into 4 classes (Kalpa. 94-97) and twelve species of leeches Jalaukasa [13.9-10]. dalhaņa also quotes an ancient Entomologist Sage Lātyāyaṇa who had made a special study of various insects.
INSECTS IN JAIN LITERATURE :
The Jain canonical texts consists of the 12 Angas, 12 Upāngas, Chedasūtras, Mūlasūtras and Chūlikasūtras with their commentaries. Of these the texts have several descriptions of Fauna. Jain scriptures speak of several classes of insects such of those having two senses (touch and taste), three senses (touch, taste, smell), four senses (touch, taste, smell and sight). The Tattvārthādigamasūtra'of Umāsvati dated to 1st c. A.D. supports this view. The Prajñāpanāļ4 speaks of 29 (two sensed), 41 (three sensed), 38 (four sensed) insects and this is also supported by the Jivājivābhigamasūtra's. The 2 sensed beings include white ants, snake like worms, red water insects, sea louse, saliva insects, worms without legs, leeches and so on. The 3 sensed being include kunthu, black ants, bugs, grass eater, moths, wood eater, leaf eater, cotton insects, and so on. Jain Cannons also recognize 3 sensed insects like different Vyntāka insects devouring leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds; the cockroach (Jhingura), Hillika, Jhillika, Kingrita, Bāhuka, Laghuka, Sauvastika, Indrakāyika, Sukavrnta, Turutumbaka, Kusthulavalaka, Piśuka (flea), Ralahala, satapadika, Illika (grain insect), Hastisunda, Utkalika, Spider, Dhānyakīta, Gokīța (cow ear), Savaya (crab louse), Ghịta Ilika (butter insect), Tinduka, satāvari.
These canons also recognize 4 sensed beings like drone, Cattle bug, sāranga (black bee), Scorpion, Gomaya Kīța (faecal insects), damśa, pišuka (flea), Nicaka, Aksila, Jalavrścika, Patravrścika, Chaņavrścika, Akşivedha, Chitrapaksa, Ohanjalika, Jalacārika, Noņika, Akşiroda, Nevara, Jārula, Nandavarta, Kukkuhu, Patra insects that are of various colour like black, blue, red, yellow, white and so on.