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(Fifth Section)
Evolution of Plant Reproduction
It appears from the study of the Jaina Agamas that in plants, much more clearly than in animals, an evolutionary sequence is evident ranging from forms, such as, the blue greens (algae) and bacteria which reproduce by asexual means, to ones with complicated life-cycles and highly evolved adaptations until it is capable of leading an independent life. Some of the lower forms, such as, fungi (Panaga )3 which has no reproductive specializations, produce billions of spores so that by chance a few will fall in an environment favourable for germination and survival. The higher plant may produce no more than a few score seeds per plant but each seed has a fairly good chance of growing into a mature plant.
Asexual Reproduction
According to Jaina Biology, asexual reproduction5 takes place in plant life. Asexual reproduction is characterized by the presence of a single parent, one that splits, buds, fragments or produces many spores so as to give rise to two or more offsprings. It is stated in the Sutrakṛtanga that there are, all in all, in the world four kinds of seeds (for reproduction), viz. seeds generated at the top (of the plant), (2) at its root, (3) at its knots and (4) at its stem. According to the seed and place (of growth) of these plants, some beings-born in earth,
1. Sevala, Sūtrakṛtānga II. 3.55; Pannavana 1.51, p. 2; Jivavicara 8.
2.
For plant bacteria see Bhagavati Sutra, 7.3. 276; 8. 3. 324; Uttaradhyayana Sūtra, 36. 96; Pannavana Sutra, I. 40 ff; Gommțasara (Jivankaṇḍa), V. 189, p. 117; For Earth quadrates see Sūtrakṛtänga, Book I, Bhagavati, 33. 1. 884; Uttaradhyayana Sutra 36.70, 84, 92, 108, 117; Pannavana; Gommaṭasara (Jivakāṇḍa) 89, p. 68; Lokaprakāśa, 4th Sarga; v. 25; 5th Sarga, v. I ff.
3. Sūtrakṛtänga 11. 3.55 Panaga ); Pannavana I. 51, p. 21; Jivavicara 8 "Panaga Sevāla bhūmiphoḍaya /"
4. Sutrakṛtänga II. 3.43. (aggabija)
5. Sūtrakṛtänga II. 3. 43, "Logamsi catta!i biyakäyä evamhijjamti, tamjahä-aggabiyā mülabiya porabiya khamdhabiya." The commentators give the reading of the Nagarjuniyas. "Nagarjuniyāstu pathanti. "Vanassaikāṇa pamcaviha bijavakkamti evamāhijjai-tamjaha aggamulaporukkham-dhabiyaruha, chatthavi egemdiya sammucchima biya jayamte." Sütrakṛtänga (comm. ), II. 3-43, p. 94. "Mülaggaporebijā kamda taha khamdhabijabijaruha Sammucchima ya bhaniya patteyanamtakäyā ya", Gommatas āra (Jiva), 196.
6. Sūtrakṛtānga II. 3.42.
7. Ibid., II. 3 43.
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