________________
282
Jaina Biology
According to modern Biology, “This evolution from a single ancestral species, of a variety of forms which occupy different habitats is adaptive radiation."10
As indicated in the topic “the knowledge of food", this adaptive radiation is obviously advantageous in enabling organisms to cap 'new sources of foodll and to escape from some of enemies. 12 The placental mammals13 provide a classic illustration of the process. There are dogs (sunagā or Svah)14 and deer (mrgas), 15 etc., adapted for terrestrial life16 as shown by their classification into sth alacara ( terrestrial ) group17 in which running rapidly is important for survival ; bats ( valguli ), 18 etc. equipped for flying in the air as khecara ( aerial )19 being, the completely aquatic whales ( timi)20 and porpoises (siśumārā)21 etc. as Jalacara 22 aquatic animals in water. The classification of ani. mals into sthalacara (terrestrial), Jalacara (aquatic ) and Kbecara23 (aerial ) animals in Jaina Biology throws light upon their habitats and ecology 24 to which they could grow and adapt, and make them. selves better fitted in their survival.
Modern Biology states that "The number and shape of the teeth, the length and number of leg bones, the number and attachment sites
10. Biology, p. 582. 11. Sūtrakstānga II. 3. Mode of Nutrition of Plants and Animals ( first section.
second chapter) 12. For example, movable animals deer (mga) can escape from its eoemy tiger
(vyāghra ) sometimes with its swiftness of biungular feet. See Sūtrakstānga
II. 3. 23. (Knowledge of food ) 13. Sūtraktānga II. 3. 23 . 14. Sūtrakrtānga II. 3. 23 ; Uttarādhyayana 36.180.
Pannavana Sutta 1.74 (Sunaga ); Tattvārthadhigama Sūtra II. 34. 15. Sūtrakrtănga II. 3, 23 ; Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36. 180 ; Pannavaņā 172 (miyā)
Tattvārthadhigama Sūtra II. 34. 16. Paņņavaņā 1. 69, 72, 74. 17. Ibid., Uttarādhyayana Sūtra 36. 180. 18. Paạnavaņā 1. 87. 19. Ibid 1. 86 ; Tattvārthādhigama Sūtra II, 34. 20. Pannavaņā 1. 63. ( timi) 21. Ibid. 1, 62, 67 ; Uttaradhyayana 36. 17.. 22. Ibid 1. 62. 23. Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36. 171, Pannavaņā Sūtra 1. 61, 86 24. Sūtrakstānga II. 3.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
