Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 328

Jainism And Science : Solutions of Some Problems
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a bulbous root because the upper husk of a ground-nut has fibres. Unlike the parts of other bulbous roots, every organ of a ground-nut cannot produce a new plant nor can its pieces produce a new plant, whereas pieces of a potato etc. can produce new plants. Thus no characteristics of Sādhāraņa Vanaspatikāya or Anantakāya are found in ground-nut. The ground-nut is, therefore, fit to be eaten. Multi-seeded vegetables : A question may also be raised about multi-seeded vegetables like brinjal. There are some people who ask that if the brinjal, the fig etc. are unfit to be eaten because they are multi-seeded. Are not ghosby, musk-melon (kind of vegetables) cucumber, round gourd also multi-seeded ? This question demands a lot of thinking. After thinking about multi-seeded vegetables, it has been found that the vegetable is not unfit to be eaten simply because it is multi-seeded. The kind of seeds of multi-seeded vegetable is the determining factor. There are two kinds of seeds. Some seeds become lifeless while being cooked and some seeds do not become lifeless while being cooked. The seeds of brinjal, guava etc. do not become lifeless while being cooked and figs are eaten uncooked and, therefore, they are not fit to be eaten. The seeds of ghosby, musk-melon, cucumber, lady's finger etc. become lifeless while being cooked. They are, therefore, fit to be eaten. According to the book 'Dharmasangraha' the seeds of multi-seeded vegetables do not have a subtle transparent cover on them. This is a main characteristic of multiseeded vegetables. The vegetables, namely ghosby, cucumber, lady's finger etc. have a subtle transparent cover on their seeds. They are, therefore, not considered as multi-seeded.
Another point to be noted is that researches of modern science show that brinjals have more toxic substance than other vegetables. For that reason also brinjals should not be eaten.
It is true that many uncertainties prevail among us about foods that are fit or unfit to be eaten because they are classified by those who are non-omniscient. We should, therefore, think about this in a scientific way in this scientific age. About foods that are fit or unfit to be eaten, we, the monks of new generation, think only in a scientific way. We, therefore, invite such questions. We shall try to solve them as best as we can. I hope that this logical