The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c9.t1.19

c9.t1.19

In Charaka and Suśruta (as in Aristotle) the heart is the central organ and seat of consciousness; but in the Tantric writings (as in Galen) the seat of consciousness is transferred to the brain or rather the cerebro-spinal system. The soul (the *Jîva*) has its special seat within the *Brahmarandhra* above the foramen of Monro and the middle commissure, but traverses the whole cerebro-spinal axis, up and down, along the *Suṣumna* (the central passage of the spinal cord). The *Brahma-daṇḍa* (vertebral column) contains the *Suṣumna*, the *Brahma Nâḍî*, and the *Manovahâ Nâḍî*. The cerebro-spinal axis with the connected sympathetic system contains a number of ganglionic centres and plexuses (*Chakras*, *Padmas*) from which nerves (*Nâḍîs*, *Śirâs*, and *Dhamanîs*)¹ radiate over the head, trunk, and limbs.