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152
Jaina Biology To understand how the system operates as an integrated unit, a brief study of the structure and function of each of the organs involved should be made according to Jaina Biology in comparison with the circulatory system of the Suśruta and Caraka. The Blood Vessels :
There are mainly three types of blood vessels : Siras 152, dhamanis 153 and srotas 154, (veins, arteries currents ). Sirās and dhamanis are distinguished from each other by the direction of the flow of blood and nutrient. The Jainācāryas state that there are seven hundred sirās, 155 nine155a twenty four dhamanis 156 and eight srotas 157 (currents ), nine srotas 158 (Navasoe purise ikkārasasoyā itthiya) of man are orifices, not currents.
Sirās :
The seven hundred sirās take their rise from the umbilical region. Out of them one hundred sixty siräs go up to the head, they are called rasaharanīyā sirās. There take places the strength of eyes, ears, nose and tongue by their non - injury, while the strength of eyes, ears, nose, and tongue gets destroyed as a result of their injury. In the body another group of one hundred and sixty sirās rising from the naval region go down to the feet, there cccurs the strength of the Janghā (shanks ) by their non-injury; if they are injured, there takes place headache (sisavedanā), megraine ( addhasisaveyanā ), newralgic pain in head (matthayasūla ) and eyes become blind (acchini amdhijjaṁti ). 159
Another group of one hundred sixty sirās taking their rise obliquely from the naval region runs to the palms of hands; there takes place the strength of arms by their non-injury, but there occur side - (lateral) pain, backache, hypochondrial pain and colic pain in hypochondria as a result of their injury. Another group of one hundred
sixty sirās originating from the naval region go down to the rectum. 152. Tandula Veyaliya 2, p. 6. 16, p. 35; Kalyāņakāraka 3.2, p. 30 153. Tandula Veyaliya, 16, p. 35, 2, p. 6; Kalyņakāraka, 3.3, p. 30 154. Kalyāṇakāraka 3.4, p. 31. 155. Tandula Veyaliya 2, p. 6 ; 16, p. 35 155a Ibid 16, p. 35 156. Kalyāņkāraka 3.3, p. 30 157. Ibid 3.4, p. 31. They are not orifices but current. 158. Tandula Veyaliya, 16, p. 35. 159. Tandula Veyaliya, 16, P, 35.
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