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Vol. XXIII, No. 4
157 stomach, Nor he takes it out or places it in through the Vagina. But he takes out a very micro from of the embryo and places it in another womb. Of course, in such a manner that it does not cause any pain". (Stanza-12)
"Oh Goutam ! The Angel excises the body and penetrates it to bring out only the micro from of the Embryo and transfer it to another womb. (Stanza -13)
The salient points to be marked in the above passages are : (a) Lord Mahavira's answers to the curious questioner Goutama
are very emphatic about the process followed in the operation of Embryo transfer although he had no worldly knowledge of the subject matter. This knowledge must be attributed to his
sixth sense15 or capability to remember his previous births (b) The following facts emphatically negative in the process definitely show his super human knowledge: (i) The whole of the embryo was not taken out of one womb
and placed in another. (ii) It was not taken out through vagina and placed in the
stomach. (iii) It did not cause any paid whatsoever to the mothers. (c) The process involved penetrating or excising the body by what
soever means in such a way that it leaves no scar or siga. (d) The embryo or the gene taken out of one womb and placed in
another is the minutest possible.
Similarly a vivid description of the whole episode is also found in another ancient scripture “Kalpa-Sutra". It's author Acharya Bhadrabahu. the 8th successor of Lord Mahavira is said to be the last repository of the Universal knowledge. He authored in or about 310 BC, the well known Jain Treatise “Kalpa-Sutra". Io stanzas 13 to 30 he elaborately describes the whole story. He precedes the actual operation with the following narration :
"Soudbarma-Kalpa's16 King Shakra17 oversees from his heavenly abode 'Jambu-Dwip18 by his Awadhigyan. He comes to know that Lord Mahavira has incarnated into the womb of Devananda Brahmini. He contemplates over it and thinks that Tirtbankar, the enlightened one, can not take birth in Brahmin Kule. Therefore, it is my duty that I should transfer it to an appropriate womb. He commands 'Harinegmaishi' the expert angel to transfer it to a Khastriyani's womb".
Thereafter the operation of Embryo transfer as performed by the expert angel is lucidly described as follows:
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