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154
Jaina Biology
Dhamanis :
According to Jaina Biology, there are stated to be twenty-four dhamanis in the human body. Out of them twenty dhamanis arc situated around (i. e. on the above and below) the naval point and four are obliquely (or horizontally ) placed. 165 In agreement with this number of dhamanis mentioned in the Kalyāṇakāraka with their three groups, the Susruta also divides them into three groups, (viz. (1) ten trunks or cords going up to the heart, thence to the head, (2) ten going down to the intestines, kidneys and rectum, and (3) four branching over the whole body. It is clear from the accounts of dhamanis given by Kalyānakāraka and Suśruta that they take their rise from the umbilical cord. First group of Dhamanis :
According to the Suśruta, each of the ten ascending dhamanis trifurcates, and proceeds to the head, first on going to the heart.167 Of these one pair conducts each of the four sensory currents (those of sound, colour, taste and smell) from the sense-organs to the heart, the seat of consciousness for them (brdayam višeşeņa cetanāsthānam). 168 Other dhamanis conduct automatic motor currents (e. g. the currents concerned in respiration) yawning, sleeping and waking or the secretions of the lachrymal and mammary glands.169
The second group of Dhamanis ( Adhogāmini) as described in the Suśruta :
165. Kalyāṇakāraka 3.3, p. 30. 166. “Caturvimsatirdhamanyo nabhiprabhavā abhihitäh // 2 //";
“Tāsām tu nābhiprabhavāņāṁ dhamanīnămürdhvaga daśa daśa cadhogäminyas
catasrastiryagāḥ /! 3 //” Sarīrasthāna, Susruta, Chapter 9. 167. Urdhvagāḥ sabda spargörüparasagandhapraśvāsocchvásajệm bhitakşuddhasitakathi
taruditādinvišeşānabhivahantyaḥ sarfram dhārayanti, tāstu hşdayamabhiyorapapnastridhā jayante tastrimsat / tásām tu Vatapittakaphasoņitarasão dve dve Vaharastā daśa / sabdarüparasagandhānaştābhirghpite dvābhyam bhasate dvā. bhyam ghoșam karoti, dvābhyam svapite dvābhyām pratibudhyate ca dve caśruvāhioyau dve stanyam striya vahataḥ stanasamsrite / teeva sukram narasya stan abhyamabhivabatah tastvetāstrimsatsavibhāgā vyakhyātā etabhirürdhvam nabberudaraparsvaprsthoraskandhagrivabāhavo dharyante yapyante ca l" :
Śarirasthāna, Susruta. Chapter 9. 168. "HỊdayam Viseşeņa Cetanasthānam I"
Sarirasthāna, Susruta, ch. IV, p. 468, “HỊdayan cetanādhisthậnam tham ”
Caraka, Sarirasthāna. Chapter VIII 69. Susruta, Sarirasthāna, Chapter 9
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