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Conclusiou
plants, Green plants24 can photosynthesize; certain bacteria25 and animals 26 can produce light. Certain plants produce wild variety of substancesflower, pigments, 26 perfumes,27 many types of drugs, 28 and bacteria,29 and molds, certain animals can make deadly poisons30 and also antibiotics31 like the best chemists.
The world of Life Plants. Biologic Inter-relationship.
At first glance the world or living substances (Jivadravyas) as revealed in the Jaina works appears to be made up of a bewildering variety of plants and animals, 32 all quite different and each going its separate way at its own pace.
A close study of the world or living things as described in the Jaina Āgamas reveals that all organisms, whether plant or animal, have the same basic needs for survival, the same problems of getting food33 for energy, getting space to live,34 producing a new generation35 and
so on.
24. Mañjiṣṭhā (Indian Madder), Bhagawati, 8.6.334.
25. Ketaki flo ver (Forula, Asafotida), Bhagavati, 22. 2. 692;
Haritaga (Terminalia Chebula), Ibid, 22. 2. 692;
Bhallaya (Acajou, especially acid quicea for medicine). Ibid.
26. Arjuna (the plant Calotropis Gigantea for optic nerve), Ibid, 2. 3. 1.693; Bhangi (Cannabis Sativa ), Ibid., 23. 5. 693;
Tulsi (Roly basil), Ibid., 21. 8. 691.
27. Sūtrakṛtānga II. 3.
28. Vṛścika (Scorpion), Manduka (frog), uraga (snake), Bhagavati, 8. 7. 376. Abi (a class of snake), Ajagata (a class of snake), Ibid, 15. I. 560.
29. Nakula (mongoose), Ibid., 8. 3. 325, 15, 1560.
30. Sūtrakṛtānga II, 3. Bhs. 33. 1. 844, 7; 5. 282, etc.
Uttaradhyayana Sutra 36, 68-202.
Pannavana, jivapanṇavana 1. 14-138
Gommaṭasara (Jivakāṇda), 1. 35, 70, 71, 72, etc.
293
31. Sütrakṛtanga II. 3. 40-62.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. It is suggestive from the study of the world of life in Jaina Biology on the basis of the structures (Samsthana) of living form- plants and animals, on the physiologic and biochemical similarities and differences between species, etc. and on the analysis of the genetic constitution of present plants and animals, i. e. anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of plants and animals, their embryologic and generic histories as outlined in Jain Biology and the manner in which they are distributed over the earth's surface.
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