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इत्यग्निवेशकृते तन्त्रे चरकप्रतिसंस्कृते विमानस्थाने स्रोतोविमानं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः||५||

इत्यग्निवेशकृते तन्त्रे चरकप्रतिसंस्कृते विमानस्थाने स्रोतोविमानं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः||५||

ityagnivēśakr̥tē tantrē carakapratisaṁskr̥tē vimānasthānē srōtōvimānaṁ nāma pañcamō'dhyāyaḥ||5||

ityagnivēśakr̥tē tantrē carakapratisaṁskr̥tē vimānasthānē srōtōvimānaṁ nāma pañcamō'dhyāyaḥ||5||

Thus ends the fifth chapter  - on the specific features of the srotas  - of the Vimanasthana in the treatise composed by Agnivesa and redacted by Charaka. [5]

Thus ends the fifth chapter  - on the specific features of the srotas  - of the [[Vimana Sthana]] in the treatise composed by Agnivesa and redacted by Charaka. [5]

Tattva vimarsha:

 

=== Tattva Vimarsha ===

 

• Srotasa are the basic biological transport and transformation systems in the body.  

• Srotasa are the basic biological transport and transformation systems in the body.  

• Doshas can pervade in these biological systems and also affect them due to their own causes.  

• Doshas can pervade in these biological systems and also affect them due to their own causes.  

• Increased flow or obstruction or formation of nodules and flow of bodily fluids or contents in the wrong or opposite direction are the features of morbidity of srotas. Diagnosis of these shall be done first before designing management protocol.

• Increased flow or obstruction or formation of nodules and flow of bodily fluids or contents in the wrong or opposite direction are the features of morbidity of srotas. Diagnosis of these shall be done first before designing management protocol.

Vidhi Vimarsha:

=== Vidhi Vimarsha ===

The chapter on Srotovimana deals with the subject of inner transport systems of the living body in a unique, holistic style and presenting almost a new way of understanding human biology. The living human body is comprised of innumerable micro and macro channels with specific functions. The tangible and intangible components of this srota system are responsible for transport and circulation of all kinds of biological fluids, energies and impulses. Charaka’s statement that our body is equipped with as many micro-channels as is the number of life events is an interesting way of looking at the circulatory system within the body. The subtle dimension of srotovijnana of Ayurveda seems to encompass all the minute structural and non-structural pathways and receptors which allow complex body functions. While deliberating on the micro-structural dimensions of srotovijnana, Ayurveda does not forget to reflect that it is an applied bioscience that needs to be practiced by clinicians who may need to clinically examine the roots of these channels at a gross level. Hence, after initial reflection on the quantized microstructures, Charaka presents a very practical scheme of 13 gross channels or physiological systems for routine pathological considerations and for clinical examinations in a patient. Following two aspects need to be kept in mind to understand the Ayurvedic concept of srotvijana:  

 

The chapter on [[Sroto Vimana]] deals with the subject of inner transport systems of the living body in a unique, holistic style and presenting almost a new way of understanding human biology. The living human body is comprised of innumerable micro and macro channels with specific functions. The tangible and intangible components of this srota system are responsible for transport and circulation of all kinds of biological fluids, energies and impulses. Charaka’s statement that our body is equipped with as many micro-channels as is the number of life events is an interesting way of looking at the circulatory system within the body. The subtle dimension of srotovijnana of Ayurveda seems to encompass all the minute structural and non-structural pathways and receptors which allow complex body functions. While deliberating on the micro-structural dimensions of srotovijnana, Ayurveda does not forget to reflect that it is an applied bioscience that needs to be practiced by clinicians who may need to clinically examine the roots of these channels at a gross level. Hence, after initial reflection on the quantized microstructures, Charaka presents a very practical scheme of 13 gross channels or physiological systems for routine pathological considerations and for clinical examinations in a patient. Following two aspects need to be kept in mind to understand the Ayurvedic concept of srotvijana:  

   1. The concept of cellular and molecular  srotamsi is aptly reflected in the following verse:

   1. The concept of cellular and molecular  srotamsi is aptly reflected in the following verse:

                                                     Srotomayam hi shariram ; Yawantah purushe murtimanto  

                                                     Srotomayam hi shariram ; Yawantah purushe murtimanto  

                                                     Bhawavisheshah tawant ewasmin Srotasam prakara visheshah.  

                                                     Bhawavisheshah tawant ewasmin Srotasam prakara visheshah.  

( The body is a network of srotasa. There are as many types of srotas as there are corporeal entities.)

( The body is a network of srotasa. There are as many types of srotas as there are corporeal entities.)

Ayurveda in general and the Charaka Samhita in particular presents its unique approach to the molecular physiology of the living body encompassing the entire range of micro transport tissues or channels, with the help of microstructure and nonstructural physiological mechanisms describing the same under srotovimana. The bio receptors, the micro transport accelerator mechanisms and all kinds of designed micro barriers such as blood brain barrier etc. fall in the realm of micro srotas. This could be easily compared with the contemporary information prevalent today in molecular biology.

Ayurveda in general and the [[Charaka Samhita]] in particular presents its unique approach to the molecular physiology of the living body encompassing the entire range of micro transport tissues or channels, with the help of microstructure and nonstructural physiological mechanisms describing the same under [[Sroto Vimana]]. The bio receptors, the micro transport accelerator mechanisms and all kinds of designed micro barriers such as blood brain barrier etc. fall in the realm of micro srotas. This could be easily compared with the contemporary information prevalent today in molecular biology.

 

2. On the other hand, Charaka describes 13 gross channels from the applied point of view of pathology, clinical medicine and diagnostics which is routinely used in examination of a patient in clinical settings. It seems Charaka considers physiology as subtle and pathology as gross. As also mentioned in the introduction of this chapter, the described set of 13 channels are designed for following physio-pathological attributes, namely, three channels for intake of biologically needed material from outside such as air, water, food through three channels called pranavaha,udakavaha, and annavaha. Besides, there are three other gross excretory functions associated with evacuation of bowels, urine and sweat through the three respective channels/systems called purishavaha, mutravaha, and swedavaha. Finally, there are the seven sustaining channels, one each for the seven dhatus or primordial tissues of the body namely rasavaha, raktavaha, mamsavaha. medovaha, asthivaha, majjavaha and shukravaha for perfusion of the dhatus viz. rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, shukra respectively. Each of these channels has been described to possess a pair of base organs called mula which forms the origin of the respective srotas.

2. On the other hand, Charaka describes 13 gross channels from the applied point of view of pathology, clinical medicine and diagnostics which is routinely used in examination of a patient in clinical settings. It seems Charaka considers physiology as subtle and pathology as gross. As also mentioned in the introduction of this chapter, the described set of 13 channels are designed for following physio-pathological attributes, namely, three channels for intake of biologically needed material from outside such as air, water, food through three channels called pranavaha,udakavaha, and annavaha. Besides, there are three other gross excretory functions associated with evacuation of bowels, urine and sweat through the three respective channels/systems called purishavaha, mutravaha, and swedavaha. Finally, there are the seven sustaining channels, one each for the seven dhatus or primordial tissues of the body namely rasavaha, raktavaha, mamsavaha. medovaha, asthivaha, majjavaha and shukravaha for perfusion of the dhatus viz. rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, shukra respectively. Each of these channels has been described to possess a pair of base organs called mula which forms the origin of the respective srotas.

These channels, both minute and gross, are vulnerable to afflictions from a set of srotas disorders viz. atipravritti or hyperactivity, sanga or hypoactivity, siragranthi or obstructive swelling, and vimarga gamana or diversion of function. Such srota dushti or vitiation are caused by a range of factors including ama, unhealthy particles ingested and inhaled from the atmosphere, and wear and tear in body due to routine physiology and stress. Ayurveda advocates protecting the channels from being blocked or vitiated by means of leading a healthy life style, eating healthy food as well as by practicing periodical samshodhana karma.

These channels, both minute and gross, are vulnerable to afflictions from a set of srotas disorders viz. atipravritti or hyperactivity, sanga or hypoactivity, siragranthi or obstructive swelling, and vimarga gamana or diversion of function. Such srota dushti or vitiation are caused by a range of factors including ama, unhealthy particles ingested and inhaled from the atmosphere, and wear and tear in body due to routine physiology and stress. Ayurveda advocates protecting the channels from being blocked or vitiated by means of leading a healthy life style, eating healthy food as well as by practicing periodical samshodhana karma.

procedures.

procedures.

Glossary of Technical words

=== Glossary of Technical words ===

Charaka Samhita Vimana sthana chapter 5 : Srotovimana.

 

[[Charaka Samhita]] [[Vimana Sthana]] chapter 5 : [[Sroto Vimana]].

1. Srotas – The word srotas means a channel or a pathway with functions like secreting, oozing, leaking, and circulating. It refers to the macro and micro inner transport system of the body and pathways concerned with the function of accepting, rejecting as well as carrying the vital external supports for life from outside viz. prana (air), anna (food) and udak (water) which are essential to sustain life besides ejecting the excreta viz. mala (feces), mutra (urine) and sweda (sweat) in order to keep the milieu interior clean. There are special systemic srotamsi for carrying/circulating the nutrients and bio factors through each of the seven dhatus.  Besides these gross channels there are innumerable micro channels, pathways and receptors specific for transmission and transportation of different bio-factors/bio-events, tangible or intangible in the body. The srotas system forms the basic matrix of all physiological, pathological as well as the pharmacological functions of the living body.

1. Srotas – The word srotas means a channel or a pathway with functions like secreting, oozing, leaking, and circulating. It refers to the macro and micro inner transport system of the body and pathways concerned with the function of accepting, rejecting as well as carrying the vital external supports for life from outside viz. prana (air), anna (food) and udak (water) which are essential to sustain life besides ejecting the excreta viz. mala (feces), mutra (urine) and sweda (sweat) in order to keep the milieu interior clean. There are special systemic srotamsi for carrying/circulating the nutrients and bio factors through each of the seven dhatus.  Besides these gross channels there are innumerable micro channels, pathways and receptors specific for transmission and transportation of different bio-factors/bio-events, tangible or intangible in the body. The srotas system forms the basic matrix of all physiological, pathological as well as the pharmacological functions of the living body.