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Vol. XXIII, No. 4
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womb before beginning the operation by greeting him with Pranam and seeking the permission for the operation is unique and speaks highly of Indian culture and respect for the theory of Rebirths.
(b) The expert hypnotises the patients (the mothers) into deep sleep
before the operations. We may compare this with the Anaesthesia used in clinical operations these days by Surgeons.
(c) He also hypnotises other family members as well. I have not been able to comprehend the idea behind it because no human could see a celestial being performing such operation.
(d) He then sterilises not only the patients body or parts thereof but the whole surrounding by two different processes
(i) By removing the infectious or virus element28 and
(ii) By introducing antisceptic elements28 in the whole surrounding. This may be compared with the process of sterilisation applied in various forms these days.
(e) He takes out the embryo without causing any pain to the mothers and holds it in the hollow of his folded palms.
(f) He travels from Brahmin colony of Kundgram to Khatriya colony of Kundgram, two different localities of the city with embryo in his hands.
(g) He repeats the hypnotising process of deep sleep and sterilisation.
(h) He exchanges the embryo in such a manner that no pain is caused to the mother.
(i) The Angle again travels to Brahmin colony of the city and replaces the embryo in Devananda's womb.
(j) The transfer took place on the 83rd day after impregnation which in itself is still a challenge the Modern medical science.
The episode of Lord Mahavira's birth raises many a eyebrows. Some even question the operations possibility and authenticity in that age i.e. 5th Century BC. Inspite of the details given in the ancient texts, it also leaves many a questions un answered. Historicity of Mahavira has long been established but the authenticity of such episodes could still be challanged. This challenge is fueled by the religionistic zealots themselves. In Jains, there are several sects. The most ancients are Swetamber and Digamber. The scriptures followed by both sects are almost identical but their texts vary in several details. The texts followed by Digamber sect do not contain any reference to the Embryo-Transfer episode. Mahavira has been mentioned therein to be the son of Trishala, the Khsatriya Queen.
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