Critical Review 0f Concept Of Manovaha Srotas With Special Reference To Brain

- Srotas are the channels for the purpose of secretion, conduction and transportation of body constituents. In sroto vimaniya adhyay (Cha. Vi. 5) Charakacharya has mentioned 13 srotas and their respective mulasthana except manovaha srotas. But in Charaka Sharirsthana 1/20, Charaka Indriyasthan 5/41 and Charaka Chikitsasthan 9/5 manovaha srotas has been mentioned clearly. With context to Chakrapani tika on above references it is said that Hriday and Dasha Dhamani is the site of Mana. Anatomically hriday is considered as heart. But here heart cannot be considered as the site of mana. Mana does mainly functions of emotional, intellectual activities. All these are related to brain functions. In this study hriday is considered as brain not the heart. Hriday name means the organ which takes something, gives something and transports something. The brain does same activity like responses to incoming sensory, outgoing motor and nerve conduction. Hriday has also one meaning ie centre place. Brain is the part of central nervous system. Functions of brain matches with functions of mana mentioned in samhitas.