Sambodhi 1975 Vol 04

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 11

THE WORLD OF LIFE ACCORDING TO THE JAINA LITERATURE J C. Sikdar
Biological Inter-relationship
At first glance the world of living substances (vadrasyas) as revealed in the Jaina works appears to be made up of a bewildering variety of plants and animals', 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 foods 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, each adapted to live in some particular sort of environment. 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 inter-related in two main ways, evolutionary descents and ecologically. One organism may provide food or shelter for
1. Sutra-kytanga, II. 3.48-62; Bhagavati, 33. 1. 844; 7. 5, 282; etc. Uttaradhyayana, 36. 68-202; Panṇavana, Javapannavaṇā 14-138; Jivi bhigama, 3. 96, 33-34. 35; Gommatasara (Jiva-kanda). 35, 70, 71, 72, etc.
2. Sutrakṛtänga. II. 3, 40-62.
3. Ibid. 4. Ibid.
5. Uttaradhyayana, 36. 135; 144; 169; 178;
179; 186; 193; 202.
6. Sūtrakɣtänga, II. 3; Bhagavat; 7. 5. 232; Uttaradhyayana 36 171 T. Jivābhigama 1. 34; 35. Pannavaṇā, Jivapanṇāvana, Jalacara Sthalacara - Khecara pană 28-34.
manusyaprajna
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7. Sutrakytanga, II. 3. 43-62.
8. It is suggestive from the study of the world of life of Jaina Biology on the basis of the structures (Samhanas) of living forms - plants and animals, on the physiologic and biochemical similarities and differences, between species, etc. and on the analysis of the genetic constitution of present plants and animals, i. e. anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of plants and animals, their embryologic and genetic histories as outlined in Jaina Biology and the manner in which they are distributed over the earth's surface, that a sort of organic evolution has occurred.
9. Sutrakɣtänga II, 3. 42-62; Bhagavat 7. 5. 282. "The habitat of an organism is the place where it lives, a physical area, some specified earth's surface, air, soil or water", Biology p. 90.
It is a remarkable fitness of the organism for the place in which it lives, e. g. water for aquatic animals and plants, lands for terrestrial animals and plants and air for aerial beings. It is suggestive from this fact of fitness of organism for the habitats in which they live that they are interacting and interdependent parts of larger units. for survival, as evidenced by a close study of Ahärapadanikṣepa (knowledge of
food) in the, Sutrakṛtānga II. 3.43-62.
Sambodhi 4.1