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SEVENTH CHAPTER
EVOLUTION OF ORGANIC LIFE IN JAINA BIOLOGY.
( First Section ) PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION IN JAINA BIOLOGY.
The Jaina concept of organic evolution may be formed on the basis of detailed comparisons of the structures (samthānas)' of living forms,2 on the sequence of appearance and extinction of species3 in past ages, on the physiologic and biochemical similarities and differences between species as revealed in Jaina Biology and “on the analyses of the genetic constitution of present plants and animals"6.
According to modern Biology, "The term 'evolution' means an unfolding or unrolling - a gradual, orderly change from one condition to another'.7 “The principle of organic evolution states that all the various plants and animals existing at the present time have descended
1. Ekenariyajiva up to pañcendriyajiva have many rypes of shapes by which they
may be distinguished. 'Sarthänādesao Vāvi, vihānāim sahassaso." Uttarad hyayana Sü'ra 36, 88, 91, 105, 116. 125. 135, 144, 151, 169, 178, 193, 202. c.g. Egak hurā, duk hurā ceva, gamdipayā saņappaya Hayamãi Gonamai, gayamãi sihamãiņo". Utiaradhyayana Sūtra, 36.180 ; see Paņņavana, 1.70. Uitarādhyayana Sūtra 36. 68-197; Pannavana Sutta I. 8. 147 (Saṁsirasa mävanni
jiva paņņavanā). 3. E.g. Sthalacarajivas (terrestrial animals) are beginningless ( anadiya ) and endless
(apajjavasiya ) with regard to Santati ( series of issues-generations, but they have a beginning and an end with regard to duration (thiti) of an individual soul as Sthalacara duri' g life, i.e. birth and death because of the sequence of their appearance and extinction in past ages. "Samtaim pappa näiya, apajjavasiyavi ya / Thiim paducca säiya, sapajjavasiya
ya //" Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36. i3. 4. E.g. Egakhura, dukhurā ceva, gamdipayā sa nappaya Hayamai, gonamai, gayamai
sihámaino" Uttaradhyayana Sutra 36.180. Pannavana Sutta, 1. 71-74 (Tirikkha
joniya pannavana ) See the second section "The livi g evidence for evolution" 5. Ibid,,
Biology, p. 512. *Shāvaram purakkhayan savve paņā savve bhuta savve jiva savve satta ņaņävihajonya nänävihasambhavä pāņavihávukkamā sarirajoņiya sarirasambhava sari rasambhavā sariravukkama sariraharā kammovagā kammaniyāņā kammagatiya kammathiya kammaņā ceva vippariyasamuvemti / se evamayanaha se evamayānitta
ähäragutte sahie samie saya jae Hibemi samic" suz, 362 Sūtrakrtanga 11 3.62. 7. Ibid.
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