Jaina Biology

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

Page 26

Cell Structures and Functions
15
The study of the different views on Prāna or Vāyu shows that Jaina paryāpti or prāna is neither a result of peculiar chemical combinations of non-living matter as advocated by the Cārvākas nor a complex activity of the Samkhya but a sort of separate principle (adhyātma vāyu ) pervasive of the organism as defined by the Vedānta, an impelling force, the prime-mover of Caraka and sušruta. It appears to be the actual living material of all plants and animals like protoplasm of modern Biology. Jaina paryāpti and prāņa, the two unique forces, not explainable in terms of Physics and Chemistry, are associated with and control life. The concept of these forces may be called vitalism which contains the view that living and non-living systems are basically different and obey different laws. Many of the phenomena of life that appear to be so mysterious in Jaina Biology may be explained by physical and chemical principles with the discovery of future research in this field. So it is reasonable to suppose that paryāpti, a mysterious aspect of life, although not identifiable with protoplasm, comes nearer to the latter because of its unique functions in the organisms.
According to modern Biology, “protoplasm is the actual living material of all plants and animals. This is not a single substance but varies cousiderably from organism to organism, among the various parts of a single animal or plant, and from one time to another with a single organ or part of an animal or plant. There are many kinds of protoplasm, but they share certain fundamental physical and chemical characteristics."52
"The protoplasm of the human body and of all plants and animals exists in discrete portions know as cells. these are the microscopic unit of structure of the body, each of them is an independent, functional unit, and the processes of the body are the sum of the co-ordinated functions of its cells. These cellular units vary considerably in size, shape and function. Some of the smallest animals have bodies made of a single cell; others such as, a man or an Oak tree are made of countless billions of cells fitted together.53
“ The major types of organic substances found in protoplasm are asya karma, nāgadayah Dagakurmakrkara-devadattadhananjayarūpāh pancavāyavah leteşāṁ karmāni ca yathākramam udgāronmilanaksudhajananavijrmbhanamoharūpäni ?" Sangitadarpana, chapter I, sloka 47-48. cf. "Prāņah prāgVrttirucchvāsādikarma / Apanah avāgvrttirutsargāpikarma / Vyanah tayoh sandhau vartamānah vīryavatkarmahetuḥ / Udānah urddhvavrttih utkrantyadi hetuh / samanah samam sarveşu angesu yah annarasān nayati / iti /.". Śănkarabhāșya, chapter II, pada 4, sútra 2. Vide Positive Science of the Ancient
Hiudus, p. 230-31. 52. Biology. p. 16. 53. Ibid.