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472 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
is structural difference between 2-4 sensed and most fivesensed beings. The later are generally vertebrates while the earlier ones are invertebrates. Thus, despite no mention about it in canons, this has seeds of modern zoological taxonomy. Table 2 gives different types of classifications of mobiles in canons based on many factors. It is seen that the classes are not as numerous as the living beings in general. The mobile classes vary between 2 and 48. However, it is observed that sense-based classes have been further subclassified according to different available species as shown in Table 3 onwards. It is clear that this canonical classification is neither binomial nor international as the names are in Samskrta or local language. However, this should not be taken as a defect, as these concepts are post-eighteenth century developments. Table 3 : Sense-based Sub-classification of Mobile Beings. Source 2-sen- 3-sen- 4-sen- 5-sen- 5-sensed sed sed sed sed
Tiryañcas Humans 1. Uttarādhya- 14 16 26 3
yana 2. Prajnapana 29 41 38 3( 2 ) 2 ( 10, 3 ) 3. Jivajivābhi- 29 41 38 2 (3) 2 ( 10,3)
gama 4. Pañca 7 8 9 8
sangraha 5. Jiva-Vicāra- 11 18 10 3
Prakarana 6. Șat-khan- - - - -
2 dāgama/TP
It is seen from Table 3 that there is difference in mobile sub-classes in different texts either partially or wholly. However, Prajñāpanā gives the largest number of species in every subclass with Jivajivābhigama nearly following it. The Digambara procanons lag behind in the classes of 2-4 sensed mobiles
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