Studies on Biology in Tattvartha Sutra

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Z_Sumanmuni_Padmamaharshi_Granth_012027.pdf

Page 12

Glory of Jain Culture
7. Life Cycle of Living Beings : types of birth are important here. Table -7 (a) Birth.
indicates the types of birth which different
types of living being may have as per T.S. Every living being has a life cycle of
and biological science. T.S. mentions abirth, growth and death. The birth is defined
sexual birth for 1-4 sensed ones and sexual as the first appearance through conception
birth for the 5-sensed ones. In contrast, the (invisible in general) or delivery of a new
biologist have three types of birth living embodiment in the world. The conceiving factors are not given in T.S.
mechanisms; (1) Vegetative (2) a-sexual and though they are given in Sthananga (Page
(3) Sexual. Many plants have vegetative 576-578, 628-29). The T.S. 2.31 mentions
reproduction but most have indirect sexual three types of birth through which new
reproduction. Similarly the 2-4 sensed living species of different types are born (1)
beings also do have sexual reproduction. It Non-uterine or spontaneous (2) Uterine
may be indirect as there is no fixed place (incubatory, placental, non-placental) and
for birth and most of the times, no internal (3) Special bed. We do not have any concern receptors for sperms. Thus, external sexual here with the third type as it relates to the birth takes place in many cases. Of course, upper and lower world and we are dealing there is uterine birth for 5-sensed beings in with middle world only. The remaining two T.S. and biology. Table 7: Different types of Birth for Living Beings.
S.No.
1.
Birth Uterine birth (Direct sexual)
T.S. 5-sensed (men, animals)
Biological Science 5-sensed (men, animals) 1-4 sensed have also indirect sexual birth. Very few categories of primary living beings.
- 2.
Spontaneous or asexual birth
1-4 sensed, some 5-sensed beings
The Digambara Commentators of T.S. have defined the term Sammurchima' as production of a living species from critical collection of surrounding material bodies when spontaneous generation takes place. This definition suggests that the Jains could accept the Carvaka or Aristotlean theory of materialistic origin of primary or higher life which goes against their concept of living begets living. To alleviate this, the term
should be redefined. The Sthanangvrtti (P.108) has defined it in terms of non-uterine birth which may also involve vegetative reproduction. It is because, the prefix 'a' could have two meanings: (1) Complete negation of sex as in vegetative reproduction or (2) Indirect (not-perceptible to eye) sex as in many cases of 1-4 sensed beings as is pointed out in Kalpsutra in the form of oviparous uterine births of honey-bees,
28
Studies on Biology in Tattvartha Sutra (Formulae on Reals)