ABSTRACT

1. Medicinal Plants and JainismByDr. Shuchita JainLecturer in BotanyGovt. J.D.B. P.G. College for Women,Kota

2. ABSTRACT Nonviolence is fundamental principle of Jainism. Both are so intrinsically integrated that there is no exaggeration to connote both Jainism and nonviolence as synonyms. Jainism ordains that all plant forms along with even soils (including minerals, water, air, energy (fire) are life forms and should be treated as one’s own self and any form of cruelty or pain should not be inflicted. In AyarSuttam, the most important canonical Jain scripture, there is very sensitive description of injury to plant and its parts equating it with same as injury to human body and any of its parts or organs. The plants experience and feel pain in the same way as the humans do. There is very elaborate and comprehensive description of various plant species and their products in Jain scriptures notably Tilloyapannati and JambudweepPrajnapti.

3. Devoted Jain people do not take modern allopathic medicines as violence is involved in their research and manufacture. By and large and as an established tradition, Jains depend on medicines based on plants. While working on U.G.C. project on survey of medicinal plants, it has been observed that availability of many such plant species are dwindling fast even if claimed to be the best protected forest areas in National parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It has also been observed that collection of medicinal plants by tribals is done in very cruel way. It is therefore necessary particularly for Jain people and organizations to take up propagation, collection and processing of medicinal plants in situ as well as in agricultural farms in accordance with Jain principles. The paper stresses the need of such studies establishing correlation between Jainism and plant science to conserve Phytodiversityvis a vis biodiversity which is the need of the hour to save planet earth.

4. NamokarMahamantra Namokar Mantra is unique prayer devoted to PanchParmeshti. PanchParmeshti are ideals for us to follow. By reciting Namokar mantra, we gain purity and peace. NamoArihantanamI bow in reverence to Arihants NamoSiddhanamI bow in reverence to Siddhas NamoAyariyanamI bow in reverence to Acharyas NamoUvajjhayanamI bow in reverence to Upadhyayas NamoLoyeSavvaSahunamI bow in reverence to all Sadhus EsoPanchNamoyaroThis five-fold salutation SavvaPavappanasanoDestroys all sins Mangalanam Cha SavvesimAnd amongst all auspicious things PadhamamHavaiMangalamIs the most auspicious one

5. NONVIOLENCE • Nonviolence is fundamental principle of Jainism. Both are so intrinsically integrated that there is no exaggeration to connote both Jainism and nonviolence as synonyms. • Jainism ordains that all plant forms are life forms and should be treated a one’s own self. • Any form of cruelty or pain should not be inflicted on plants.

6. PLANTS IN JAIN SCRIPTURES • In AyarSuttam, the most canonical Jain scripture, there is very sensitive description of injury to plant and its parts equating it with same as injury to human body and any of its parts or organs. • Plants experience and feel pain in the same way as the humans do. • There is very elaborate and comprehensive description of various plant species and their products in Jain scriptures notably Tiloyapannati and JambudweepPrajnapti.

7. JAIN TRADITION • Devoted Jains do not take modern allopathic medicines as violence is involved in their research and manufacture. • Jains depend on medicines of plant origin. • Jains do not take even Ayurvedic medicines in which honey is used as an ingredient.

8. REVELATIONS OF MY SURVEYS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS • My surveys of medicinal plants in sanctuaries and National Parks under U.G.C. Project have revealed discrepancies which are not compatible with Jainism. • Discrepancies are given below.

9. AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS • It has been observed that availability of many medicinal plants is dwindling fast even in areas , claimed to be best protected in National Parks. • Growing pressure of exploding population and industry on shrinking forests is accentuating the shortage of medicinal plants. • Many medicinal plants have become extinct. • Many more are on the verge of extinction because of their overexploitation.

10. COLLECTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS • By and large medicinal plants are collected by tribals. • Because of abject poverty tribals start collecting prematurely. • There are elaborate instructions in Ayurvedic scriptures about the season, month and even fortnight as well as stages of flowering, fruiting etc. when any medicinal plant should be collected. These instructions are certainly not at all followed.

11. STORAGE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS • Medicinal plants collected from forests are eventually sold to big traders in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad etc. • Traders store them in dingy, dark and moist godowns susceptible to be infected by bacteria and fungi. Using such medicines is against Jainism.

12. PREPARATION OF MEDICINES • Most pharmaceutical manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicines purchase their requirements from traders in cities. • Traders continue mixing fresh and old time- barred medicinal plant parts. • No pharmaceutical manufacturer has its own expertise and organized system of collecting medicinal plants according to prescribed method. • This adversely affects quality of Ayurvedic medicines.

13. CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS • Many important medicinal plants are being cultivated in agricultural fields. • These are not as effective as those collected from natural sites. The proportion of active constituent is lower. • In natural forests medicinal plants grow under a specific edapho-climatic ecosystem in association of other trees and plants. • Medicinal plants if to be cultivated, it should be done by first creating the specific ecosystems in which they grow naturally.

14. JAIN TIRTHANKARAS AND TREES • It is interesting to note that all the 24 tirthankaras meditated under the trees and not any other place like caves or river banks etc. to get enlightenment. • There is so much importance of plants and their medicinal values in Jainism that all Trthankaras of present (Avasarpani Era) got their enlightenment meditating under various trees of medicinal value. • The Tirthankaras and their respective KewaliVrikshas (Trees) are given in the following Table.

16. Slides showing the name of the Tirthankara, the KewaliVriksha (Tree) and its medicinal value.

17. TirthankarRishabhanathor Adinath Bargad Botanical Name FicusbenghalensisLinn. Family Moraceae A large evergreen tree, leaves obovate, receptacles globose, red when ripe. Medicinally useful and used in different diseases. Milky juice is applied externally for pains in rheumatism and lumbago. Infusion of bark used as tonic, astringent, used in dysentery, diarrohoea and diabetes. Seeds are cooling tonic. Leaves applied as poultice to abscesses. Root fibres useful in gonorrhea.

18. TirthankarAjitnath Semal Botanical Name Bombaxceiba L. Family Bombacaceae Large deciduous trees. Leaves crowded at the end of branches, petiolate, digitately 5-7 foliolate, leaflets 5-23 x 1.5-9cm., ovate- lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers crowded at the end of Leaflet branches, crimson or yellowish, capsules woody, minutely apiculate, reddish brown. The bark of the tree is used to cure some skin disorders.

19. TirthankarSambhavnath Sal Botanical Name ShorearobustaGaertn. Family Dipterocarpaceae A large semi-deciduous tree, young shoots buff tomentose. Leaves alternate, glabrous, flowers cream coloured.Resin-Astringent, detergent used in dysentery and for fumigations and plasters. Also given for weak digestion, gonorrhea and as aphrodisiac. Resin contains 62% essential oil.

20. TirthankarAbhinandannath Chir Pine Botanical Name Pinusroxburghii Family Pinaceae Evergreen trees. Branches whorled generally horizontal. Resin-stimulant, used internally as stomachic and as a remedy for gonorrhea, externally as a plaster applied to buboes and abscesses for suppuration. Wood and oleoresin used in snakebite and scorpion sting.

21. TirthankarSumatinath Priyangu Botanical Name Callicarpamacrophylla Family Verbenaceae Evergreen small sized trees with opposite leaves. Flowers pink, reddish or rosy and used in intestinal disorders, acidity, fever and blood disorders.

22. TirthankarPadmaprabhu Priyangu Botanical Name Callicarpamacrophylla Family Verbenaceae Evergreen small sized trees with opposite leaves. Flowers pink, reddish or rosy and used in intestinal disorders, acidity, fever and blood disorders.

23. TirthankarSuparshwanath Siris Botanical Name Albizialebbeck(L.) Family Fabaceae It is a deciduous tree of 5-15m height. Bark is grayish or pale brown. Young parts are pubescent. Leaves have large gland on the petiole. Flowers are fragrant and greenish pale yellow in colour. Bark is useful in leprosy and ulcers.

24. TirthankarChandaprabhu Naga Kesar Botanical Name Mesuaferrea Family Guttifereae An evergreen tree with cinnamon red bark. Flowers white with rusty stalks and used as astringent, used in cough with expectoration, made into paste with butter and sugar used in bleeding piles and burning of the feet. Flower buds used in dysentery. Unripe fruits aromatic, sudorific. Bark-astringent, aromatic combined with ginger used as sudorific. Leaves and flowers-in snake bite and scorpion sting. Flowers contain essential oil and two bitter substances.

25. TirthankarPushpadanta Bahera Botanical Name Terminaliabellirica Family Combretaceae Deciduous trees,10-30m high. Bark dark grey and longitudinally fissured. Leaves broadly obovate. Flowers in axillary spikes greenish yellow or creamy white in colour. Fruits ovoid or ellipsoid. It is of medicinal use in Ayurveda.

26. TirthankarSheetalnath Kalpvriksha Botanical Name AdansoniadigitataL. Family Bombacaceae It is a small deciduous tree with smooth grey bark. Leaflets are sessile or subsessile, obovate-oblong or elliptic-oblong, densely silky brown, hairy. Flowers are pendulous. Fruits are 20-25 cms. long, ellipsoidal densely hairy, pale brown. Flowering occurs in April-May and fruiting in June–December.

27. TirthankarShreyansnath Tendu Botanical Name Diospyrosmelanoxylon Family Ebenaceae A large sized tree. Bark is used as an astringent, decoction of bark in diarrhea and dyspepsia as tonic. A dilute extract used as astringent lotion for the eyes. Leaves used as diuretic, carminative, laxative and styptic. Dried flowers are useful in urinary, skin and blood diseases. Bark, fruit and half ripe fruit contain 19%,15% and 23% tannin.

28. TirthankarVasupujya Patala Botanical Name Bignonia atrovirens Family Bignoniaceae Medium sized trees, with rough brown bark. Leaves are acuminate. Flowers in corymbs seeds with membranous wings; flowering and fruiting season is from March to June. It is useful as an aphrodisiac.

29. TirthankarVimalnath Jamun Botanical Name Syzygiumjambolina (L.) Family Myrtaceae Moderate sized tree. Leaves 15-20 x 3-4 cms in size, ovate, lanceolate. Flowers fairly large, jointed with the pedicel and greenish white in colour. Berries globose pinkish white or dark purple in colour. Seed powder is effective against diabetes. Flowering and fruiting season is January to June.

30. TirthankarAnantnath Peepal Botanical Name Ficusreligiosa Family Moraceae A large glabrous tree with grey bark. Leaves orbicular ovate, globose. Flowering and fruiting season is April to June. Decoction of young leaves is used for the treatment of general fever. Tree is religious and worshipped by people.

31. TirthankarDharmanath Vishnukant Botanical Name ClitoriabifloraL. Family Cleomaceae Twining herbs up to 60 cms. High with angular stems. Flowers are geminate and solitary, deflexed, blue in color. Bracteoles are ovate pods 3-5 cms. Long. Flowering and fruiting seson is August to October. Seeds are antihelmintic.

32. TirthankarShantinath Nandi Botanical Name CederellatoonaRoxb. Family Meliaceae Tall, deciduous trees,15-20m high. Leaves unipinnate and leaflets 4-15 in pairs. Flowers in drooping panicles, white and scented. Capsules are oblong. Leaf juice given in stomach disorders.

33. TirthankarKunthunath Tendu Botanical Name Diospyrosmelanoxylon Family Ebenaceae A large sized tree. Bark is used as an astringent, decoction of bark in diarrhea and dyspepsia as tonic. A dilute extract used as astringent lotion for the eyes. Leaves used as diuretic, carminative, laxative and styptic. Dried flowers are useful in urinary, skin and blood diseases. Bark, fruit and half ripe fruit contain 19%,15% and 23% tannin.

34. TirthankarArahanath Mango Botanical Name Mangiferaindica L. Family Anacardiaceae Trees are tall and evergreen having 15-20m height. Leaves are oblong or lanceolate in shape. Flowers are in small terminal spikes. They are yellowish green in colour. Fruit type is drupe which is fleshy and of various size. Flowering season is December and fruiting from February to July.

35. TirthankarMallinath Ashok Botanical Name Saracaindica (Linn.) Family Leguminoseae Evergreen shrub or tree. Leaves unipinnate, leaflets opposite and elliptic oblong, flowers are scarlet red in color. Bark astringent used in uterine affections and in menorrhea in scorpion sting. Bark contains tannin and catechol.

36. TirthankarMunisuvratnath Nag Champa Botanical Name Micheliachampaca Linn. Family Magnoliaceae Habit tree. Bark febrifuge, stimulant, expectorant, astringent , dried root and root bark is purgative and in the form of infusion useful emmolient and-mixed with curdled milk, can be applied to abcesses. Flowers and fruits considered to be stimulant, antiseptic tonic, stomach carminative, bitter and cooling used in dyspepsia, nausea and fever, also useful as diuretic in renal diseases, gonorrhea. It is used in the mixture form with sesamum oil for external application in vertigo. Oil Extracted from flowers is used in ophthalmia, cephalagia and gout. Juice of leaves is given with honey in colic. Seeds and fruits are used for healing the cracks in feet. Flowers contain essential oil too.

37. TirthankarNaminath Bakula Botanical Name MimusopselengiLinn. Family Sapotaceae Medium sized tree. Bark of the plant is astringent tonic useful in fevers. Leaves are used in snake bite. Pulp of ripe fruit is used to cure chronic dysentery. Seeds bruised and locally applied within the anus of children suffering from constipation. Seeds contain saponin, kernels yield oil.

38. TirthankarNeminath Kokam Botanical Name Garciniaindica Family Guttifereae Small to medium sized tree, leaves simple, dark green and elliptic ovate. Fruit is antiscorpionic. Bark useful as an astringent. Oil is soothing and used in several skin diseases. A drink of infusion and its local application all over the body is prescribed in urticaria.

39. TirthankarParshwanath Dhau Botanical Name Anogeissuslatifolia Family Combretaceae Deciduous trees, 15-20 meters tall, bark smooth, white-grey. Leaves obtuse and silky. Flowering and fruiting season is March to July. The gum obtained from tree is used as medicine. Fresh bark is crushed with water to prepare a paste and paste is applied on sores to heal.

40. TirthankarMahaveer Sal Botanical Name Shorearobusta Family Dipterocarpaceae A large semi-deciduous tree. Leaves are alternate, flowers cream coloured. Resin-astringent and used in dysentery and for fumigations and plasters. Also given for weak digestion, gonorrhea and as aphrodisiac. Resin contains 62% essential oil.

41. In the Govt. J.D.B. P.G. Girls College, Kota, where I am teaching, we have raised “TIRTHANKARA VATIKA” (grove) and planted saplings of these trees.

42. CONCLUSION I conclude with fervent appeal to all those present here and all Jains through this forum that to keep up Jain tradition of relying on Ayurvedic medicines, it is necessary to make an ardent, systematic and organized effort to preserve, propagate, collect, store and manufacture according to prescribed methods only. This alone will be compatible with Jainism.