Jaina Biology

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

Page 49

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Fundamental Tissues :
They make up the great mass of the plant body, including soft parts of the leaf, pith and cortex of stems and roots, and the soft parts of flowers and fruits. 101 Their chief functions are the production and storage of food 102 as explained by modern Biology 103 which states that "the simplest of fundamental tissues, parenchyma, consists of cells with a thin wall and a large vacuole."104
Conductive Tissues :
It is stated by the Jainacaryas that host individual plants in the beginning of their growth are non-host individual for an autarmuhurta. Then they become host until they are so developed that the sinews and nerves appear on them, 105 when they again become non-host individual.
This statement of the Jaina works implies the suggestion about the connective tissues of plants that there are two types of conductive tissue in plants, as explained by modern Biology, viz. xylem, which conducts water and dissolved salts and phloem, which conducts dissolved nutrients, such as, glucose. 106 It is suggestive that Guḍhasira and ahiruyam of plants 107 as explained in Jaina histology may be compared with xylem and phloem of plants of modern Biology, 108
Jaina Biology
Organ Systems :
According to Jaina Biology, the bodies of single-celled animals (e. g. earth quadrates 109 or two sensed animal - krmi (worm110) which may be identical with the protozoa of the Lower Invertebrate) and subtile plants (sūkṣma vanaṣpatill1) are not organized into tissues and organs;
101. Sūtrakṛtänga II, 3.47; Gommaṭasara ( Jiva), v. 188. 102. Sūtrakṛtänga, II, 3.45; Gommalasara, ( Jiva), V. 185. 103. Biology, p. 52.
104. lbid.
105.
"Güḍhacirāgaṁ pattam sacchīram jam ca hoti nicchiram / jam pi ya panaṭṭhasamdhim aņemtajīvam viyaṇāhi ", Panṇavana, vanaṣpatikāyajiva-Paṇṇāvana, 54.85 "Gudhasirasamdhipavvam samabhamgamahiruham (ragam) ca chioaruha sadharanam sariram. tavvivariyam tu patteyam", ivavicara 12. "Güḍdhasirasamdhipavvam samabhamgamahiruyam ca chinnaruhaṁ /
Sābāraṇamariram tavvibariyam ca patteyam //", Gommatas ära (Jiva), 187, p. 116. 106. Biology, p. 52.
107. Panṇāvanā Vanaspatikayajivapanṇavana 54. 84; Jivavicara, 12; Gommaṭasara (Jiva), v. 187.
108. Biology. p. 52.
109. Gommaṭasara ( Jivakanda ), v. 201, p. 122.
110. "Kimino somangala..../", etc. Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 36.178.
111. Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36.92; Bhagavati Sūtra, 7.3.276; Gommatas āra (Jivakāṇda) p. 122.