constantly maintain its integrity. The terms Vata (Vayu), Pittam and Shleshma (Kapham) are respectively derived from the roots 'Va', to move or smell, 'Tapa,' to burn or to heat, and "Shlisha," to embrace, with the suffix 'Ta' thereto added.*[1]
Seats of the bodily humours:—Now we shall describe the locations of the foregoing vital humours. The Vayu may be briefly described as located in the regions of the pelvis (Shroni), and the rectum (Guda). The Pittam has its seat in the region between the stomach (Amashaya) and the intestines (Pakvashaya) which is above the pelvis and the rectum and below the umbilicus, while the Kapham is ensconced within the cavity of the stomach (Amashaya.)
Now we shall divide the locations of each of the vital humours into five parts:—The five localities of the Vayu will be described under the head of Vata-Vyadhis (nervous diseases), while those of Pittam are the liver and the spleen, the heart, the pupils of the eyes, the skin and the intestines (Pakvashaya). The Kapham is located in the region of the breast, the throat, the head, the joints and the stomach (Amashaya). The foregoing regions are the seats of the vital humours in their normal state.
- ↑ * From this should be inferred that motion and smell are the natural attributes of the vital vayu, heat and burning are those of pittam, and union and integration are those of Kapham.
