Jain Journal 2013 07

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

Page 27

JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLVIII, NO. 1-IV JULY 2013-JUNE 2014
(Mosquito-30.108), worms kīda (1.26), maivaha (5.211) small insect crushed under elephant feet. Further texts may also deal on various other insects, their behaviour and characteristics that need to be documented. Mangarasa I, a Jain scholar of Karnataka in his Toxicological text named Khagendramanidarpuna“ dated to about 14th C.A.D. speaks about the poisons of 14 types of insects such as beetle, Hornet, Apis species of bees, Houseflies, Woolly Caterpillar, Horned insects, Bed bugs, Ants, Fire Ants, Waste Drainwater worms, Singing Cicadas as in the text. [XIII. 109-125] The text also deals extensively on the poisons of 13 types of Scorpions in Chapter XI. Ancient Jain Kavyas also may have several descriptions of insects that needs to be studied and documented.
CONCLUSIONS Ancient Jain literature has vast information on insects that needs to be researched in terms of their classification, characteristics, behaviour and medicinal values. Such observations have to be gleaned from the still untapped Jain sources such as the Upangas, Various Sutras and their Commentaries, the Jain scientific texts, Jain kavyas and so on. Combining these, one may get a broader picture of the ancient Jain Entomology. Also several beliefs and folklore among the Jain religion followers may add to this knowledge.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the Secretary, Mythic Society, Bangalore and Secretary, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore for providing the necessary references.