Hindu Medicine c8.138

c8.138

These two passages are called “Iḍā” and “Piṅgalā” and are supposed to be related to the activities of the lunar and the solar forces in the microcosm. The moon-center of the microcosm is located at the top of the spinal cord; with its milky rays it pours forth the essence of immortal life (amṛta) and serves the entire body. This enlivening sap descends through the channel “ Iḍā,” on the left side of the body. The antagonistic principle of devouring solar heat is supposed to be situated at the bottom of the microcosm, wherefrom its devastating force circulates upward through the organism by way of the channel “ Piṅgalā ” (that is, the “ reddish ” or “ yellowish ”), on the right side of the microcosm. Both passages, “ Iḍā ” and “ Piṅgalā,” have no outlet midway, in the region of the chest or elsewhere. Their opening at the lower end lies where they meet and enter the innermost channel of the spinal marrow at the base of the backbone, the central vertical duct of the spinal cord, named “ Suṣumṇā.”