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Anciont Jain-Scriptures
UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF EMBRYO-TRANSFER ?
Mangilal Bhutoria
One branch of modern Reproductive biology deals with transfer of an embryo developed in a test-tube to a female-womb. Medical science has so perfected the process that it is used at various fertility centres and clinics through out the world. The process involves collection of ovum and sperm, their in vitro-fertilisation, development and implantation of the embryo in female-womb. The limit however is that the transfer should be effected within a specific period from the date of fertilisation. This has been necessitated in cases where the couple due to certain infirmity in the reproductive organs 18 unable to reproduce. A healthy embryo still can not be transferred clinically from one womb to another and it has not been possible as yet in Modern Medical history even to transfer a test-tube embryo after it is more than 3 to 5 days old.
Jain scriptures, however, interestingly contain mention of a unique example of Embryo transfer performed practically about 2600 years ago It is related to the birth of Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar. He was born in 599 BC. The ancient scriptures record the reincarnation of Mahavira intothe womb of 'Devananda', the wife of Rishav Dutt, a Brahmin. At the orders of Celestial King Lord Indra, Mahavira's embryo after 82 days of pregnancy was transferred into the womb of Trisbala, the wife of Khsatriya King Sidhartha by one of Indira's expert angels. The process of transfer is described in detail in various Jain scriptures 1 The oldest of them is Acharanga Sutra 2 It is in Prakrit language. It comprises of the words spoken by Lord Mahavira Therein, the stanzas: 991 to 993 of chapter 24 calls “Third Chulika-Bhawna" give step by step narration of the operation performed by the expert angelo as follows :
"तओणं समणे भगवं महावीरे अणुकंपतेणं देवेणं जीयमेयं ति कट्ट जे से वासाणं ""बासीतीहिं राति दिएहिं वीतिक्कतेहिं तेसितिमस्स राति दियस्स परियाए “तिसलाए खत्तियाणीए वासिट्ठगोत्ताए असुभाणं पोग्गलाणं अवहारकरेत्ता सुभाणं पोग्गलाणं पक्खेवं करेत्ता कुच्छिसि गम्भं साहरिए । जेविय तिसलाए खत्तियाणीए कुच्छिसि गम्भे, तंपिय"देवाणंदाए माहणीए कुच्छिसि गम्भं साहरिए।" Tulsi-Prajña, Ladnun: Vol. 23 No. 4
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