Jaina Biology

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

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Jaina Biology
five pindas 58 (or cells) by segmentation. But it is largely replaced in the adult by bone (asthi )59 in all "but the skarks and rays ",60 according to modern Biology.
Bone is not solid structure as it is evidenced by the reference to marrow (asthimajja ).61 Most bones have a large cavity. The marrow cavity in the centre (cavity of majja) which contains yellow marrow (majjā), mostly fat ", or red marrow, "the tissue in which red and certain white blood cells are made ",62 as explained by modern Biology. Muscular Tissue63:
Five hundred muscular tissues (peśis64 or manisapesis) in the body of the developing organisms are mentioned by the Jainacāryas. Muscular tissue may be classified into three distinct types of muscles in the human body, viz. skeletal, smooth and cardiac, although the Jaina texts have not mentioned them clearly. It is understandable from the reference to 500 muscular tissues65 that skeletal muscle makes up the large muscle masses attached to the bones of the body. Out of the rest muscles some may be found as smooth muscle in the walls of the digestive tract and certain other internal organ and some as cardiac muscle in the walls of the heart (Hiyaya ),66
The movements of most animals result from the function of muscle cells (or tissues collectively) which perform mechanical work by contracting and getting shorter and thicker,
Blood Tissue (Sonita )67:
Blood tissue has been mentioned by the Jain äcāryas as sonita or asrg68, but it has not been analytically explained by them like the modern Biologists. It is presummable from its redness in colour, its liquidness in character and the yellows marrow of the bone that it includes red (and white) cells and the liquid, non-cellular part of the blood, the plasma as they have been found by the Biologists. "Many
58. Tandula veyaliya, 2, p. 6.
59. Bhagavati Süra 1.7.61; Tandulaveyaliya, 2, p. 6.
60. Biology. p. 48.
61. Bhagavati Sūtra, 1.7.61; Tandulaveyaliya, 2, p. 6.
62. Biology, p. 48.
63. Tandulaveyaliya, 2, p. 6.
64. Ibid.
65. Ibid.
66. Sūtrakṛanga II, 2. 18.
67. Acaranga, Book II, 4; Sutrakṛtänga, II 2, 18; Bhagavati 1.7.61; Tandulaveyaliya,
2, p. 61.
68. Lokaprakāśa, Pt. I, 3rd Sarga, VV. 18-19.