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: Scientific Contents in Prakṛta Canons
by taking and assimilating the sap from bodies of soil, water, air, fire (sun) and even other plants under favourable conditions45. This intake is caused through their outer skins from below and the sun and atmosphere from upwards. They have their intake through fine pores or hairs. They have energy intake by absorption and solution-intake by diffusion and osmosis. This all round intake causes the various completions (four in case of plants) which are instrumental in the growth of different parts of the plants. These are roots, tubers, stem, wall, sprout, branches, leaf, flower, fruits, seed and bark46. Each part has its intake by the same method through its underground roots with which every other part is connected. Bhagavati mentions the growth of plants through intakes the amount of which vary from season to season47. Gunaratna also points out similar growth process in plants alongwith many other comparable qualities of mammalians48. It is the intake which is transformed in different parts of plants in due course. Despite mention by Sikadar, canons do not seem to specify the quality of photosynthesis by plants and contribution of air in their growth. Of course, it could be inferred that the completional metabolism may supply the necessary energy for proper growth.
The growth of 1-4 sensed beings born through asexual or spontaneous mechanism is not very much detailed in canons, though quite a number of them have been said to be of uterine incubatory birth in contrast to their overall a-sexual origin50. But their growth after birth might be inferred as due to metabolisation of material intakes and consequent energy. The growth of mammals during pregnancy period has already been described in another chapter. The after-birth growth is not very much detailed. But it has been pointed that the food intake is gradually metabolised to be transformed into blood, flesh, bone, fat, marrow, semen, sense-organs etc.51 A mammalian passes into ten stages after birth. The first stage is that of a child (upto 10 yrs.). Other stages are: (ii) sportive stage, (iii) slow growth, (iv) youth or state of strength, (v)
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