Jaina Biology

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

Page 31

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changing22 by taking in new substances, altering them chemically in a variety of ways, building new vital force or energy23 and transforming24 the potential energy contained in large molecules of nutrients or chyle (rasa )25 into kinetic energy (śakti) including heat as these substances are converted into other simpler substances. This constant expenditure of energy is one of the unique characteristics of living substances.
Both plants and animals have anabolic26 and catabolic27 phases of metabolism. They occur continuously and simultaneously.28 Plants,29 however, (with some exceptions ),30 have the ability to manufacture their organic compounds31 out of inorganic materials in the soil and air, animals must depend on plants, for their food. "Plant cells are simply better chemists than animal cells."32
Movement:
The ability to move33 is the third characteristic of living substances. 22. Ibid. Malayagiri
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Jaina Biology
"Ahārasarīra imdiya, usāsa vao mano abhinivatti,
hoi jao daliyão Karanam Pai sa u pajjatti" (Bṛhatsamgrahani, p. 1:0) "Ahara sarirendra iyocchvāsava comanasambhinirvṛtirbhinisat tiryato dalik addalabhutat pudgalas muhatta sya dalikasya saktirupam sa pary aptih 1, vide Navatattva Prakaranam, Tika, p. 13.
"Tatra Jivaḥ pudgalopacayālambanena; samutṛannaya y-ya saktyā nānāmāhāra. madaya khalara sarupataya pariņamayati sa āhārāpārāptiḥ Jivaḥ pudgalonicayajataya yayā saktyā Punaramanoya pudgaladravyamadaya manastvena parinamayya alambya ca visṛjati sa manaḥparyapti " I Ibid, pp. 13-4, etc.
Ibid.
Ibid.
"Anabolism refers to those chemical processes in which simpler substances are combined to form more complex substances, resulting in the storage of energy and the production of new protoplasm and growth." Biology, p. 17. "Catabolism refers to the breaking down of these complex substances, resulting in the release of energy and the wearing out and using up of protoplasm," whose place is taken by paryapti in Jain Biology." Biology, p. 17.
28. Pajjattipattṭhavaṇam jugavam tu kameņa hodi niṭṭhavanam /amtamuhuttakaleṇa
hiyakama tattiyālavā " 120., Gommaṭasāra (Jiva), 120; Biology, p. 18.
29. Bhagavati Sūtra, 7.3.275-6., Biology, p. 18.
30. Prastitic plants which are born on trees have no ability to manufacture their organic compounds, but they feed on the sap of the supporting plants. See Sūtrakrtānga, Śrutaskandha 2, Adhyayana 3, Biology, p. 18.
31. Bhagavati, 7.3.275-6; Tarkarahasyadipika 49; Biology, p. 17; Gunaratna, p. 157. 32. Biology p. 18.
33. Acaranga Sutra, Book I, p. 1.14; Sūtrakṛtänga, Śrutaskandha II, Adhyayana 2, Sūtra 18; Sthānanga Sutra 2.4.100; Bhagavati Sūtra, 25.4.739; Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36.68; Jivabbigama Sutra, p. 12; Tattvartha Sūtra II, 12.14; Mūlācāra, Pt. I, 30 (226); Jivavicara, 2; Tarkrahasyadipika v. 49; Gommaṭasāra (Jiva) 3', Paṇṇavanā, Kayadara, 4.232, p. 86.
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