Jaina Biology

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

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Jaina Biology
insectivorous plants, 24 although without an organized digestive system, do secrete digestive enzymes25 similar to those secreted by animals, as suggested by the statement “they deprive of life the bodies of manifold movable and immovable beings; the destroyed bodies which have been consumed before, or absorbed by the rind, (are) digested and assimilated (by them ).'26
Plants accumulate the reserves of organic materials for use during those times when photosynthesis is impossible, at night or over the winter 27 when leaves fall. An embryo plant cannot make its own food until the seed has sprouted and the embryo has developed a functional root, 28 leaf 29 and stem 30 system.
Plant Circulation
The simpler plants consisting of single cell or small group of cells31 have no circulatory system. Simple diffusion, augmented in certain instances by the process of active transport by air (ucchväsaväyu )32 suffices to bring in the substance33 the plant requires. Gūdhaśīrās34
24. Nāņāvihäņa tasathāvarāna pāņānam sariram acittam kuv vamti parividdattham
tam sariram...... viparinayam sarūviyakadam samtam/", Ibid. II. 3.43. 25. Sūtrakstānga II. 3.43. 26. Ibid, SBE XLV, Book II, Lecture 3, Sūtra 2, p. 389. 27. Bhagavati Sūtra, 7. 3.274, Vanassikaiya......... Paus avarisarattesu savvamābāragā
bhavamti, tadāņamtaram ca ņam sarae tayānaṁtaram hemaṁte iadāņamtaram ca ņam vasaṁte tadāņamtaram ca ņam gimhe, gunhasu nam vanassaikāiya savvappaharaga bhavamti/" 274; Śrávaņādicaturmāsyām právrdvarşāsu bhūruhah/Sarvato bahulāhārā apām babulyatah smrtāh //109/1 Tatha saradi hemante kramadalpal pabbojinah / Yavadvasante' alpābārā grisme atyantamitāšanāh" //116/7,
Lakaprakasa I, 5, 109-10. 28. (1) "Joviya müle jivo soviya patte padhamayaetti/ (2) Savio vi kisalao khalu
uggamamāņo anamtao bhanio" iti Etaccarthatah prajñāpanā vịttau Ācarāngavstřāvapi tathaiva il Yaduktam -"Yaśca mūlatayā jīvah parinamate sa eva prathamapatratayā api iti! ekajīvakartşke mūlaprathamapatre iti yavat prathamapatrakam ca yās u bijasya samutsūnāvastha bhūjalakālāpeksa saivocate / iti // .............na mulajivapariņāmāvirbhavitameva iti avagantavyam/", Vide Lokaprakasa I, p. 361; "Udgacchan prathamankurah sarvasādhārano bhavet / Vardhamano yathayogam
syātpratyeko' athavāparah /!", Loka prakasa T, 5.74. 29. Ibid. 30, lbid. 31. Uttaradhyayana Sūtra 36.92; Pannavanā, vanas parikāyajivapannavanā, 1.35, p. 16.
( sūkşma vanaspati 32. Rasaprasarpanam spastam satyucchvāse asmadadişu / Tadabbăve tadabhavo
drstāśca mrtakādişull, Lakaprakāśa 5.33. 33. lbid : Sūtrakstānga, II. 3.43. 34. Pannavanā Vanaspatikāyajivapaņnavanā 54-84; Jivavicāra 12; Gommațasara 187
(Jivakāņda ).