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Jaina Biology
The Jaina view about the size of Nigoda finds support in modern Biology to some extent in the following manner : “ Viruses vary widely in size; one of the largest - the psittaccosis virus, the cause of a disease transmitted by parrots and other birds - is about 275 millimicrons in diameter, and one of the smallest, the one causing foot and inouth disease of cattle, is 10 millimicrons in diameter. The electron microscope reveals that some viruses are spherical and others are rod-shaped.'50
By the operation of the common (Sad hārana ) body making karma the bodies of Nigodas become group-souled. They are gross and fine.51 That is to say, their bodies become group-souled “like huge colonies of viruses” of modern Biology.52 “ Although individual virus particles cannot be seen, virus-infected cells frequently contain 'inclusion bodies' (i. e. group-souled bodies of Nigodas ), which are visible with ordinary microscope. These are believed to be huge colonies of viruses. ) 53
It appears from the study of Jaina Biology that some Nigodas like viruses parasitize bacteria ( earth quadrates and bacteria in plant); they are filtrable and will grow only in the presence of living cells - in cultures of bacteria, which they cause to swell and dissolve. These Nigodas are found in nature wherever bacteria occur -- " and especially abundant in the intestine of man and other animals ( kukşikrmi?)" They may be compared with Bacteriophages of modern Biology 54 “Electron micrographs show that some are about 5 millimicrons in diameter (they vary considerably in size ) and that they may be spherical, comma-shaped or they may have a tail and resemble a ping-pong paddle."55 Some Nigodas like Rickettisias of modern Biology ( resembling viruses) will multiply only within living cells. Their cellular structure is similar in most respects to that of bacterias already defined. Some are spherical, others are rod-shaped, and they vary in length. This Jaina view is supported by Biology in this way that Rickettisias resemble viruses in that with a single exception (a non-pathogenic parasite of the sheep tick ), they will multiply only within living cells. Their cellular structure is similar in most respects to that of bacteria. Some 50. Biology, p. 139. 51. “ Sähäraņodayeņa migodasarīra havamti samanna / Te puna duviha jivä badara
suhumatti vinneya 1/", Gommațasāra, Jivakānda, v. 191, p. 118. 52. Biology, p. 139; Ni = Niyatām, Gām = Bhūmim, Kşetrar, niväsāmañantānanta
Jivānam dadatiti nigodam / That which is always the abode of infinite souls
(/) viruses in huge colonies is called Nigoda. qs., p. 118. 53. Biology, p. 139. 54. Ibid., pr. 140-141. 55. Ibid., p. 141.
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