Bacteria, Algae and Fungi as Found in the Jaina Literature

Bacteria: Occurrence of Bacteria: The account of the types of plants-subtile and gross as given in the Jaina Agamas throws a welcome light upen the plant kingdom, touching upon the life of both subtile and gross plants, and bacterial living in plant's body, as there are not many places in the world devoid of bacteria.

Transcribed from the prepared edition. This is the beginning of the article, not a summary — open the PDF to read it in full.

सिकदार जैन आगमों के सूक्ष्म एवं बादर वनस्पतिकायिक जीवों तथा पृथ्वी, जल, अग्नि और वायुकायिक जीवों की तुलना आधुनिक जीवविज्ञान के जीवाणु, शैवाल और कवक से करते हैं। एक शरीर में अनन्त जीवों के निगोद को वे सूक्ष्मजीव-समुदायों के विवरणों के समकक्ष रखते हैं। Sikdar matches the subtle and gross plant-lives of the Jaina Agamas, and the earth, water, fire and air bodies, with bacteria, algae and fungi as modern biology describes them. The nigodas, colonies of infinitely many souls in one body, are set beside accounts of micro-organisms.

Written by the archive’s cataloguers, not by the author.