Jaina Biology

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

Page 60

SECOND CHAPTER THE WORLD OF LIFE: PLANTS
(First Section) Biologic Inter-relationship
At first glance the world of living substances (Jivadravyas ) as revealed in the Jaina works appears to be made up of a bewildering variety of plants and animals,1 all quite different and each going its separate way at its own pace. A close study of them reveals, however, that all organisms, whether plant or animal, have the same basic needs for survival, the same problems of getting food2 for energy, getting space to live, producing a new generation' and so on. In solving their problems, plants and animals have evolved into a tremendous number of different forms, 5 each adapted to live in some particular sort of environment.6 Each has become adapted not only to the physical environment - has acquired a tolerance to a certain range of moisture, wind, sun, temperature and so on-but also the biotic environment, all the plants and animals living in the same general region. Living organisms are interrelated in two main ways, evolutionary descents and ecologically.9 One 1 Sūtrakrtânga, Śrntaskandha II, Adhyayana 3, sūtras 48 62; Bhagavati Sūtra, 33.1.844;
7.5.82 etc.; Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36.68-202; Pannavanã Sutta, Jivapaņņavanā 14-138; Jivābhigama Sūtra, 3.96; -33, 34; Gommațasāra (Jivakānda ), 1.35.70,
71, 72, etc. 2. Sūtrakrtānga, Srutaskandha II, Adhyayana 3, Sütras 40-62. 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid. 5. Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, 36. 35. 144, 169, 178, 179, 186, 193, 202.
Sūtrakstānga, Srutaskundha II, Adhyayana 3; Bhagavati 7.5.2.2; Uttaradhyayana 36.171 ff; Jiväbhigama 1.34, 35; Pannavana Sutt, Jivapannavana; Jalacara-Sthalacara
-Khecara-manuşyaprajñápanā 29-34; Sthānapayam, Pannavana 2. 7. Sūtrakrtānga, Šrutaskandha II. Adhyayana 3, Sūtra 43-62. 8. It is suggestive from the study of the world of life in Jaina Biology on the basis
of the structures (samthanas) of living forms - plants and animals, on the physiologic and biochemical similarities and differences between spe.ies, etc. and on the analysis of the genetic constitution of present plants and animals, i, e. anatony, physiology and biochemistry of plants and ani nals, their embryologic and genetic histories as outlin:d in Jaina Biology and the manner in which they are distrinuted over the earth's surface, that a sort of organic evolution has occurred. Sūtrakstānga II, 3.43-6.; Bhagaati, 7.5.282; The habitat of an organism is the
place wr ere it lives, a physical area, some sp:cific, earth surface, air, soil or J. B.-7