Jaina Biology

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 20

Cell Structures and Functions
four elements, in organic forms just as the intoxicating property of spirituous liquor is the result of the fermentation of unintoxicating rice and molasses.23 Similarly, the instinctive movements and expression of new born babies ( sucking, joy, grief, fear, etc.) take place mechanically a result of external stimuli as much as the opening and closing of the lotus and other flowers at different times of the day or night24, or the movement of iron under the influence of loadstone.25 In the same way, the spontaneous reproduction of living organisms frequently occurs, e. g. animalcules develop “in moisture or infusions, especially under the influence of gentle warmth (Svedaja, Uşnaja, damsamaśakādayah )''26 or the maggots or other worms originate in the rainy season due to the atmospheric moisture in the constituent particles of curds and the like and begin to live and move in so short a time.27
Achārya Haribhadra Sūri has refuted Bhūtacaitanyavāda of the Materialists long before the Sāṁkhya in the following manner. It is the doctrine of the Materialists that this world is formed of only five great elements (mahābhūtas ), viz. earth, etc. and there is no existence of soul nor the unseen force anywhere in the world. 28
The other Materialists maintain the view on the contrary that elements are non-conscious (acetana ). Consciousness is not the character of elements nor the result of elements, while soul is the name of that tattva (reality) with which (soul ) consciousness is related (as character or result ).29
If conciousness would have been the character ( quality) of elements, then it should have been found in all elements at all times, just like 23. “Madaśaktivat vijñānam / prthivyadini bhūtāni catvári tatvāni / tebhya eva
dehākaraparinatebhyah madašaktivat caitanya mupajayate/" Nyayamñjari, Jayanta,
Ahnika, 7. p. 437 ff. 24. "Padmadisu prabodhasammilanavat tadvikārah/" Sūtra 19, Āhnika I; Chapter
III, Gautama's Nyāyā Sūtra, p. 169. 25. “Ayaso ayaskāntābhigamanavat tadu pasarpaņam," Ibid., Sūtra 22, p. 171. 26. Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, Dr. B. N. Seal, p. 239. 27. “Varşāsu ca svedādinā anatidaviyasaiva kālena dadhyādyavayavā eva calantah
pūtanādiksmirūpā upalabhyante/", Nyayamañjari, Ahnika 7, Bhūta-Caintanypaksa,
p. 440; The positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 240. 28. Pșthivyadimahābhūtakāryamātramidam jagat /
Na cātmadrsta sadbhāvam manyante Bhūtavādinah // Šāstra-Vārtāsamuccaya,
Haribhadrasūri, 1st stabaka, v. 30. 29. "Acetanāni bhūtāni na taddharmo na tatphalam/
Cetanā asti ca yasyeyam sa evätmeti căpare // ", Ibid., v. 31. J. B.-2