A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c46.119

v3.c46.119

⁷² One main nāḍī, the origin of all the others, is the pathway of vāyu, and has its root in the upper part of the body, while its branches reach downwards (4). The fourteen most important nāḍīs, which carry prāṇa, and are established in the jīvakośa, are: Iḍā, Piṅgalā, Suṣumṇā, Sarasvatī, Vāruṇī, Pūṣā, Hastijihvā, Yaśasvinī, Viśvodarī, Kuhū, Śaṅkhinī, Payasvinī, Alambuṣā, and Gāndhārī (10–13). Ten among these nāḍīs convey the ten kinds of vāyu. Iḍā, Piṅgalā and Suṣumṇā course in an upward direction; Gāndhārī and Hastijihvā provide movement to arms and legs; Alambuṣā and Yaśasvinī are located in the right, Kuhū and Śaṅkhinī in the left half of the body (14–16). The locations of the terminals (dvāra) of the ten (vāyu-transporting) nāḍīs: Iḍā ends in the left nostril, Piṅgalā in the right nostril, Suṣumṇā in the opening (randhra) (at the top) of the spinal column (vaṃśa), Gāndhārī in the left eye, Hastijihvā in the right eye, Pūṣā in the right ear, Yaśasvinī in the left ear, Alambuṣā in the mouth, Kuhū in the root of the penis, and Śaṅkhinī in the crown of the skull (17–19).