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TEE ANATOMY OF THE TANTRAS
"CHITRA". From the description of this Nadi in the Tantras (Shiva Sanhita, Ch. II, verses 18 and 19], it may be identified with the grey matter of the spinal cord. For "in it is the subtlest of all hollows called "Brahmarandara,” which is nothing else save the central canal of the spinal cord - a structure whose functions remain is yet to be discovered by the physiolo. gists. The Tamtrists appear to have traced its connection with the lateral ventricles of the brain. It has been considered by them to be the seat of human soul. Even in these days, when it is no exaggeration to say that the Hindus have quite forgotten the scientific truths discovered by their ancestors, they point to the hollow space in the crown of the head (known as the enterior fontanalle) of the new born child as the Brahmarandhra.
Every tyro in anatomy knows that this space contains the lateral ventricles of the brain *
Professor Sir Monier Williams has defined Brahmarandhra to gde **satuze or aperture in the crown of the head and through which the soul is said to escape on deata.''(Sanskrit-English dictonary). Now the learned professor's defination explains nothing. Had he consulted the Tantras and known the space called the Brahmarandhra by the modern Hindus we doubt not his concision would have been the same as ours (2.e. he would bave identified the Brahmarandhra with the central canal.)
The "Sacred Triveni" (Shiva Sanbita, Ch. V, p. 52) is the spot in the Medulla oblangata where the sympa
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