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Jaina Biology
regard to its existence in its present form it has both a beginning and an end.86
Duration of Life of Plants :
Ten thousand years is the longest duration of the life of plants; its shortest is less than a muhurta. The longest duration of the plantlives, if they do not leave that type, i. e. the continuous birth in the same type, is an immeasurable time; the shortest is less than one muhurta.
The longest interval between a plant life's leaving its body (till its return to it ) is an endless time; the shortest is less than one muhurta. Their varieties, caused by difference of) colour, smell, taste, touch, figure and place are counted by thousands.87
The above statement of Jaina Biology on the duration of life and growth of plant-life needs a scientific study and verification in the light of Biology. It is true according to modern Biology that "some organisms - most trees, will grow indefinitely " 88
86. "Samtāim pappa nāiya, apajjavasiya vi ya / Thiim paducca săiya sapajjava siya
vi ya 1/", Ibid., 36.101. 87. Ibid., 36; 102-105. 88. Biology, p. 18.
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