Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 381

356
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. VỊ
The third natural order contains the following species of plants, viz. Aluka (a kind of ebony), Mülaka (raddish), Singavera (ginger), upto Musundhi and others like them."
This analysis of the plant life and its classification on the basis of the existence of the germs of life fully corresponds to the theory of Botany about them and thus reveals the development of knowledge in this branch of learning at that period of the BhS to a considerable extent.
Zoology The references to various species of animals in the text, as already discussed in connection with the topic 'Fauna' in the first section of the fifth chapter on 'Economic Conditions', reveal that the science of Zoology developed to a considerable extent during its period.
Besides these, the very classification of beings on the basis of the possession of senses and sense-organs into five groups, viz. one-sensed, two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed and five-sensed beings, clearly shows the scientific progress of this branch of learning
The BhS divides the animal kingdom into three natural classes from the point of view of their respective habitations, viz. terrestrial (sthalacara), acquatic jalacara), and aerial (khecara or khahayara).
It mentions three processes of birth of the birds and of the other five-sensed lower animals, viz. andaja, potajā and sammür. cchimā, i. e. birth from an egg, birth from a foetus (womb) which has no enveloping membrane and birth without the union of the male and female (i. e. father and mother).
These evidences of the classification of animals and the processes of their births as revealed in the Bhs are corroborated by the Jivābhigama Sūtra where they are explained in details.
Thus it is stated that there are three kinds of yonisangraha (birth), viz.—Andajā, Potajā and Sarmūrochima.
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