The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c40.s8.46

v2.c40.s8.46

Of more philosophical interest are efforts made to render more precise the functions of the senses. Thus the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad⁴ in the doctrine above cited, of eight graspers, or apprehenders (*grahas*), and eight that are beyond (*ati*) the graspers, gives as pairs Prāṇa and Apāna, the former being used to smell odours; speech and names; the tongue and tastes; the eye and visible forms (*rūpa*) (i. e. coloured extension); the ear and sounds; the mind and desires; the hands and action; and the skin and feelings of touch.⁵ In the Kauṣītaki⁶ we have speech and name as its external correlate; breath (i.e. smell) and odour; eye and visible form; the ear and sound; the tongue and tastes; the two hands and action; the body and pleasure and pain; the organ of generation and bliss, delight, and procreation; the two feet and movements; and the intellect and thoughts, what is to be understood, and desires. The Jaiminīya Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa⁷ has a series of ten: mind and matters requiring examination (*parīkṣya*); speech (i. e. the tongue)⁸ and tastes; breath and odours; the eye and visible forms; the ear and sounds;