Scientific Secrets of Jainism

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

Page 338

Some References To Human Physiology In Jain Scriptures
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fifth month, formation of two hands, two feet and a head takes place. In the sixth month, blood and bile are formed and during the seventh month 700 veins, 500 functional cavities, 9 main pipes (dhamanis) take their shapes. At the end of the seventh month construction of 99 lakhs of hair-holes and 3.5 crores of hair take place. During the last month the embryo becomes completely ready for independent life.
Tandulavēyāliya Payannā and Vicāraratnākara show that if the embryo is on the right side in the womb of the mother, its modification takes place as a boy or male and if the embryo is on the left side in the womb, it becomes a girl or female."
We find the reproductive period of men and women during life time in Pravacana Sārõddhāra and Tandulavēyāliya Payannā If the longevity is of a hundred years, mostly men and women can reproduce a child from 16 years to 75 years and from 12 years to 55 years respectively. The developing time for human embryo is 277 days approximately and Kalpasūtra also approves of this fact by giving the developing period of Tirthankaras" embryo in their mother's womb. 13
Fertilization of an egg with a sperm i.e. descending of soul to a woman's womb takes place within 12 Muhūrttas i.e. 9 hours and 36 minutes after the copulation of man and woman within 12 days after the menstruation period."
Even though the menstruation cycle in woman's body and the reproduction of sperms in man's body start at the age of 12 years and 16 years respectively, they become capable to reproduce a healthy and welldeveloped child at the age of 16 years and 20 years respectively. 15
After giving an anatomical idea about the human body and embryology, the authors of Jain scriptures give us the sermon that we have got a precious human life as a reward of auspicious deeds of previous births and after bearing great sufferings in our mother's womb. So, we should use this precious life for emancipation of soul by doing good actions and attaining spiritual knowledge. Otherwise our precious human life becomes meaningless.
(Jain Journal, July, 1986)