A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c46.177

v3.c46.177

The nāḍīs of the human body are said to be thirty-five millions in number and to have the umbilical region as their place of origin; 72,000 among them transport the perceptions of the five senses and 700 the fluid derived from the food (annarasa); twenty-four nāḍīs only can distinctly be felt. The nāḍī in the right hand or foot is the one to be examined in particular. ¹⁸⁷ A tortoise (kūrma), thought to be located in the umbilical region with its mouth directed to the left, its tail to the right, its left legs upwards and its right legs downwards, is the origin of the twenty-four nāḍīs accessible to examination; two nāḍīs proceed from its head, two from its tail, and five from each of its legs (3–9).