Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 373

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VÌ
The united body of the mother and the father in the child lasts as long as its worldly body exists, but it comes to an end with the end of the physique of the child at last after gradual decay.1
The above evidences clearly show a highly advanced knowledge of the process of conception, gradual development of the foetus, anatomy of human body, physiological functions, and the birth of a child, as acquired by the Medical Science of that period.
These principles of the conception, fertilization of human embryo and the birth of the child compare favourably well with
those of the modern Medical Science.
Diseases and Treatments
The BhS refers to various kinds of diseases, such as, ringworm (daddu), bilious fever (pittajara), sometimes accompanied by blood dysentry', piles (amsiyão,, rheumatic (vātaka), bilious (pittika) and phlegmatic (leşmika) diseases, typhoid (sānnipātika)', insanity (unmāda), etc.
It does not throw much light upon the causes of these diseases except in one or two cases. But it is presumable that they appeared in the human body generally owing to the state of the physical and mental disequilibrium and particularly to the disturbed condition of the three most important physical elements, viz. Vayu (rheum or air), Pitta (bile or heat) and Slesma (kapha phlegm or water).
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Thus it is learnt from the text that insipid, dry and cold food and drink untimely cause bilious fever with which the monk Jamali suffered, while passing his time in Sravasti, because the normal function of the physical system was disturbed by the generation of more heat from the bile on account of unsuitable and untimely diet.
1 Bhs, 1, 7, 61.
8 Ib, 9, 33, 386; 15, 1, 557.
5 Ib, 16, 3, 572.
8 Ib, 14, 2, 503.
2 Ib, 7, 6, 288.
4 Ib, 15, 1, 557.
8.7 Ib, 18, 10, 647.