________________
424 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
(i) Special provision of birth type for hellish and heavenly bodies, thus, distinguishing them from small creature (a-sexual ) birth type.
(ii) Addition of a third variety of uterine birth for animals like lion, deers etc. indicating little finer observation power. Table 4 : Different Types of Births in Three Major Indian
Systems. System
Birth types : Examples 1. Sänkhyas 1. Spontaneous Heavenly bodies 8
followed by uterine Animals 5 birth
Humans 1 2. Vai eşikas 1. A-sexual Heavenly beings, (Ayonija )
rşis, small creatures 2. Uterine (a) Umbilical Men, animals (b) Incubatory Birds, fish, serpents
etc. 3. Jainas
1. A-sexual/ 1-4 sensed beings Spontaneous and some 5-sensed
beings 2. Uterine/Sexual (garbhaja ) (a) Umbilical Men, 5-sensed
animals (b) Non-umbilical Lion, deers (c) Incubatory Hen, parrot etc. 3. Special bed Heavenly/hellish (Upapāda ) beings
The Jaina canons suggest that the present life comes into existence through the finest luminous and karmic type of bodies. These bodies have beginningless association with the living element. It is due to this that the livingness on earth is called as beginningless. However, the current life of the living comes into existence through the process of reproductive birth.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
