Page:Sushruta Samhita Vol 1.djvu/58

 factor that deLerinines the genesis, continuance and disin- tegration of the livir-g body. It is the primary cause — an all-in-all that governs our organic as well as our cognitive faQulties. Its special feature is that the vibration, that is produqed in it, instead of travelling like light in a transverse direction, takes a course as the controller of the correlative functions of the system. It maintains an equilibrium between the Pittam and Shleshma which are said to be inert, (i) But for this adjustment the living body would stand in imminent danger of being consumed like fuel by its internal heat or fire. Taking into consideration the various functions the living body has to perform, Sushruta attempts a classif.ca- tion of Vdyu into Prana, Udana, Samana, Vyana and Apana, which, in detail, correspond to the divisions of functions performed by the Cerebro-spinal and Sympathe- tic nerves of the Western physiology. Tintric literature abounds in the descriptions of the Nadichakras (nerve plexuses) and contains a more detailed account of the motor, sensory, and mixed nerves according to their differences in their functions and relations. In short, the term Vayu may not only be rightly interpreted to mean the nerve force, but is often extended to include any kind of electro-motor or molecular force (as when we speak of the V^yu of the soil), though the term is loosely applied now to signify gas or air. The Rishis of yore gave the name of V;iyu to the bodily force in the absence of any suitable nomenclature, little suspecting that it might be confounded with the atmospheric air by the foreign translators of their works.

(1) Charaka, Sutraslh4nam. Chap. XII. Inert i.s Pittam, inert is Kaphah,

inert are the Malas & 'Jh^lus Like clouds, they go wherever they arc!- carried by the V5yu,