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272
Evidences from the Geographic Distribution :
It appears from the study of the world of life plants and animals and their classification in the second and third chapters respectively that not all plants and animals are found in all parts of the world,40 they are not even found everywhere.41
Jaina Biology
This fact suggests that "they could survive, as one would expect, if climate and topography were the only factors determining distribution."42 For example, elephant (hasti), lion (simha). deer (mṛga ), tiger (vyäghra), etc.43 as mentioned in Jaina Biology are not found everywhere in the world or in every part of India, although there may be similar climatic and other environmental conditions. Assam has wild elephants, there are lions in Gujarat's Gir forest, royal Bengal tigers in the Sunderbans in Bengal.
The present distribution of organism as described in Jaina Biology is understandable on the basis of the evolutionary history of each species.
As one would expect, regions, such as, Gujarat and Bengal have been separated by a long distance, have a flora and fauna which is peculiar to them. The Sunderbans has a population of royal Bengal tigers found nowhere else.
It is suggestive from the study of the classifications of five-sensed animals44 in Jaina Biology and their habits that "the primitive mammals 40. Egavihamanatta, suhuma tattha viyrhiya Suhuma savvalogammi,
logadese
Uttaradhyayana Sutra 36.100 etc.
ya bayarā, etc. (2 sensed being logegadese te savve, na savatiha viyahiya., Ibid, 36.130. (3 sensed beings), Logegadese te savve, na savvattha viyahiya "Ibid, 36.139 (4 sensed beings) - Logassa ega desammi, te savve parikittiya /. Ibid.. 36-149. (5 sensed beings)- Logassa egades ammi, te savve u viayhiyā 1, Ibid, 158 (Aquatic animals-fish, tortoise. etc.) Loegadese te savve, na savvattha viyahiya/ Ibid., 173.
(Terrestrial animals) Loegadese te savve, na savvattha viyahiya, Ibid, 36.182. [Aerial animals] Logegadese te savve, na savvattha viyahiya, Ibid, 36.188. (Human beings) "Loaassa egadesamm, te savve viyahiya, Ibid 38.197. ; See Pannavane Sutta, Thānapayam.
41. Ibid.
42. Biology, p. 548
43. See the 3rd chapter, Classification of Animals"; Pannavanā 1 72-74 44. See the 3rd Chapter "Classification of Animals"
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