________________
160
Jaina Biology
of blood transporters or conductors, viz. "(1) Sirās (veins) which break up into capillaries 191 (pratāna) and circulate pure blood from the liver (yakrt ) and spleen ( Pliha ) 192 to the heart (bțdaya ) and from the heart to the rest of the body, 193 and (2) "Dhamanis (arteries ?) which run, (two from the intestinal tract-portal vein and inferior vena cava) 194 and two from the heart ( superior vena cava and pulmonary artery ?)". 195
"The “Venous" blood (chyle--mixed blood ) circulates from the alimentary tract (gastric and intestinal vessels) along a Dhamani trunk (portal vena cava ?) to the liver (and spleen ), where the chyle gets a red pigment and is converted into (Pure ) blood. From the liv spleen, sirās run to the heart. The liver (and spleen, a minor bloodvascular gland) and the heart are the centres of origin of the sirās and circulate pure blood by their means over the entire body.”:196
Arrangement of the blood bearing Sirās and Dhamanīs :
"Two blood -- transporting Dhamanīs trunks ( Veins ) run from the heart (Superior vena cava and pulmonary artery ?), and two run from different regions of the alimentary tract (portal vein and inferior vena cava ? ). Ten Sirās bearing pure blood proceed from the aljinentary tract to the liver and spleen, which are joined on to the heart by means of both sirās and Dhamanis, “The ten sirās are subdivided into 175 branches, wbich are distributed over the body in the same way as the lymph-bearing Siras".197
It is clear from the reference to lungs (phopphasa phephas )198 in Jaina Biology that the Jainācāryas had knowledge of the role played by the lungs in the purification of the blood.
The liver (yakrt) converts "Venous blood” in this system into true arterial blood, and along with the spleen (plihā) as a basis of
191. It suị gestive from the blood vascular system that there are capillaries. 192. !andula Veyaliya, 17, p. 38.; Kalyāṇakāraka 3.4., p, 31. 193. Aspevahāśca rohinyaḥ śirāh nätyuşnašitatah”. Savīrasthāna, VII ; Susruta. 194. Kalyāņakāraka. 3.3, p. 30. See Tandula Veyaliya 16, p. 35
; Positive Science of the Ancient Hindus, p. 215 195. Positive Science of the Ancient Hindus, p. 215.
"Raktavāhinyasca Dhamanya", Sarirasthana, 9 Susruta. 196. Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus p. 215 197. Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 215.
see Sarirasthāna 7, 8, 9, Suśruta. 198. Tandula Veyaliya 17, p. 38
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
