The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study)
by Ashok Majumdar | 1981 | 72,079 words
This study deals with the presentation of the Nervous System in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are allied sciences dealing with science of man in depth. Whereas Yoga and Tantra are the rich sources for the knowledge of nervous system and its biological and metaphysical aspects. This study has revealed a number of hither to unknown fac...
1.2. Regarding the number of Nadis
NADI- Total number Ekendra Nath Ghosh has dealt with the Nadis in detail in the Journal of Avurveda. He said, in most of the work, we find the approximate counting of the total number of Nadis and enumeration of the few. Taking the total number of nadis in the human body we find a great
93 difference of opinion amongst the various authorities. Prasnopanisad mentions 720,000,000, Gautamiya Tantra and Tantrasana quoted 35,000,000, same in Rudrayamala-Tantra also. Siva Samhita mentions 350,000, Saradatilaka 50,000. According to most authorities, the nadis are 72,000, yajnavalka also mentions the same number. The same number, namely 72,000 is assigned to Nadis in several treatises on sphygmology ( Science of Pulse) as in Nadiyutpathi, Nadipariksha, Nadishastra Samgraha, Nadinidanam and Nadichakrabhedi (Ghosh, E.N.1925, Sept., pp.83-90). NADI- Number of Principal Nadis (Ghosh, E.N.1925, Sept.p.83-90). The highest number of Nadis is given in Nadi Srastra Samgraha. They are twenty. In two treatises on sphygmolozy, Gadasanjivani Nadivijnana and Bramhavaibartapurana (Brahma kanda) we find sixteen Nadis enumerated. Fourteen Nadis are enumerated in Siva Samhita, Nadishastra-Samgraha, Nadicakravidhi and Nadi-Nidana. Only twelve are enumerated in yogasikhopanishad. We find names of eleven nadis in Vaidyashastra. Ten principal nadis have been enumerated in Trisikhibrahmanyapanishad, Yogachudamanyupanishad and in several treatises on sphygmology. Only nine nadis were enumerated in the first chapter of Vaidya-shastra. Only eight nadis were enumerated in two treatises, Kalajnana Nadi-Pariksha and Nadipariksha (II:26). Mr. Ghosh commented at the end that, it is impossible to interpret the terms used here in the light
94 of modern anatomy. From the above we understand that the different texts have given different interpretations for different Nadis which are very much confusing and misleading, but in all of them the three Nadis, Ida, Pingala and Susumna were common.