Jaina Biology

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

Page 87

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Jaina Biology
kinds, 15 such as, Aluya16 ( white patato ), Mūlaya17 (radish ), ginger, 18 Harili, Sirili, Sassilī, Gāvai, Keyakandali,19 Onion, garlic, Plaintain tree, Kunduvvaya,20 Lohinthūya, Thībūya, Tohaga, Kanha, 21 Vajjakanda 22 Sūranaya, 23 Assa kanni,24 Sihakanni, Musundhi, Turmeric, etc. and many others like them.25
GROSS PLANTS
Vĩksas (Trees ) According to the Jaina Āgamas, there are two kinds of trees, viz. ekästbikā (single-seeded ) and bahubījakā (many-seeded ).26
Ekāsthikā is of many kinds, such as, Nimba 27 ( the Nimb or Neemba tree - Azadirachta Indica), Amba (Mango tree, Mangifera Indica ), Jambu ( Black berry tree, Eugenia Jambulabum ), Kosamba28 ( Kosāmra, Schleichera oleosa ), Sāla (Sāla tree-Shorea Robusta ), Tāla (Palmyra tree ), Amkolla (the plant Alangium - Hexapetalum ), Pilu (Salvadora persica) Selu (Cordia Myx), Sallaki (Boswellia Tharifera or serrala or Mayana hala Pinus Longifolia), Moyai (Mocaki - Moringa ptery gosperma or Salmali - Bombax Malabarica ), Māluya (Mālūra - Aegle Marmelos or Feronia Elephantum ), Baula (Bakulo tree - Mimusope Elengi ), Palāsa (Butea Frondosa ), Karamjā (the tree Pongania glabra), Puttamjiva (Jiyaputā - Roxburgbi ), (A) Ritiha (Sapindus Detergens), Bahedaga (or Bibh elaka - Terminalia Belerica ), Haritaga (Haradae - Terminalia
Chebula ) Bhallāya (the Acajou or Cashew-nut tree or the marking nut 15. “The Plants in the following list are, according to the commentary, mostly
bulbs, well known in the countries where they grow. Many of them are not in our dictionaries. I give the Prakrit form of their names, and note the Sanskrit
equivalent when it can be identified."; Jacobi, S.B.E., XLV, p. 216. 16. Aluka, Amorphophallus companulatus. 17. Mülaka, radish. 18. Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 36.96. 19. “A various reading has for the last two words ( which might be differently
divided, āpaikkeikandali. The Kandali. the plantain tree, occurs in the next
line again "; Jacobi S.B.E. XLV p. 216. 20. A Various reading is Kundambaya., Jacobi, Ibid. 21. Krishnakanda, Nyamrhaea Rubra. 22. Vajrakanda of the Sanskrit Koshas, Jacobi, S.B.E. XLV, p. 217. 23. Surana, Arum Campamumatum. 24. Ašvakarna is a tree. Vatika Robusta. Vide S.B.E. XLV, p. 217. 25. Uttaradhyayana Sūtra, 36.99; Pannavanā, 1.54, pp. 21-22. 26. Bhagavati Sūtra, 3.3.324. " Rukkha duvihā pannattā / Tamjaha-egatthiya bhubiyga
ya /", Pannavaņā Sutta, 1.39; Jivābhigama Sutra, p. 44. 27. Bhagavati Sūtra, 22.2.692. 28. Nighantu, Prathama Vškşakanda, V. 123, p. 68, Hemacandra