Essay name: The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study)
Author:
Ashok Majumdar
Affiliation: Banaras Hindu University / Department of Kayachikitsa
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. This study has revealed a number of hither to unknown facts about concept of nervous system and thought science of Hindus.
Chapter 3 - Scientific exposition of Nadi, Hridaya, Kosa and Prana
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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.
NADI
-
as Pulse in Medical Science
Here this nadi only represents Arterial pulse and
has no relationship with the yogic nadis. The classicial
text books on Ayrveda, Caraka, Susruta and Vagbhata has
never dealt with this subject. First time reference is
available in eight verses in Sarangadhara Samhita, 14th
Cent. A.D. And in ten verses in Bhavaprakasa 16th Cent. A.D.
Nadivijnana written by Kanada and Ravana are of later origin
(Sen,G.N; and Haldar, G.P.) At a much later period the
description of Nadi-cakras and nadis were incorporated in
the true system of pulse examination althrough it had no
practical bearing on the subject. The cause of this jumbling
up of two altogether different subjects is rather difficult
to find out in the present state of our knowledge.
II. HRIDAYA IN YOGA
The term Hridaya has been used more than hundred
times in medical texts Caraka and Susruta. There is no
mention of the physiology especially how mind, intellect,
senses of perceptions etc. perform their functions being
situated in Hridaya and how Hridaya plays role in these
cases. The term Hridaya is very widely used not only in
