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THE ANATOMY OF THE TANTRAS
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gists. The Tantrists appear to have traced its connection with the lateral ventricles of the brain. It has. been considered by them to be the seat of the 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 anterior 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 tu be “a suture or aperture in the crown of the head and through which the soul is said to escape on death.” (Sanskrit-English Dictionary). Now the learned professor's definition explains nothing. Had he consulted the Tantras and known the space called the Brahmarandhra by the modern Hindus we doubt not his conclusion would have been the same as ours (i.eu, he would have identified the Brahmarandhra with the central canal.)
The Sacred Triveni” (Shiva Sanhita, Ch. V, p. 52) is the spot in the Medulla oblangata where the sympa-- thetic cords join together or whence they take their origin. (Vide Ashby's Notes on Physiology, Article Medulla oblangata). The mystic Mount Kailasha. (Shiva Sanhita, Ch. V, p. 154) is certainly the brain.
PADMAS AND CHAKRAS.-Great difficulty arises. in identifying these Padmas and Chakras. What are these structures one is tempted to ask ? Are they real.
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