to the medulla oblongata. The name Merudanda is significant, and the analogy involved in the name is clearly brought out in the Sri-sarnputikii, where it haq been said that in the form of the skeleton-bone the great mountain Sumeru remains in the body.' This spinal column, compared to the mountain, is said to be very profound. It is the cave of the highest truth where all the world vanishes away. "he next thing is the theory of the cakras (plexus) or the lotuses as they are also called. According to the Buddhist Tiintrikas there are four such plexuses. The first is the lumbar plexus situated in the navel region. The next is the cardiac plexus in the heart. Next is the laryngeal and pharyngeal plexus a t the junction of the spinal cord and the medulla oblongata ; the last and the most important is the cerebral plexus called the usni+a-kamala (the lotus of the head). I n the Hindu Tantras, however, them are six cakras or plexuses in addition to the Sahasriira or the highest cerebral plexus. " sthitah piida-tale viiyuh bhairavo dhanurii-kytih 1
athito'sti kati-dede tu tri-kono-ddharan.an tothii /I vartulii-klira-rfipo hi carunas tridale sthit ah ( hrdaye pythivi caiva catttrasrii santantatah I( kunkiila-danda-rep0 hi suvaerur giri~iittat hu 1 "ara-giri-kandara gzthira jag26 tahi saala vi tuttai 1 Dohakosa of Kiinhu-pada, Dohii No. 14. The first is the i\liili2dhiiru-calr~a,or the sacro-coccygeal plexus, situated between the penis and the anus and facing down; it has four petals of red colour with the four letters "v, 4, s and s". Next is the Svudhipthtina-cakra or the sacral plexus, near the root of the penis with six petals of the colour of vermilion with the letters "b, bh, m,.y, r and 1". Next is the fifa!~ipura-cakra or the lumbar pltxus in the region of the navel; there are tell petals of the colour of the cloud, with the letters "d, dh, n, t, th, d, dh, n, p and ph" on them. After that is the cardiac plexus or the Aniihatacakra in the heart, with twelve petals of the colour of the Bandhukaflower (rcd) with the letters "k, kh, g, gh, li, c, ch, j, jh, ii, t and th" on them. Next is the laryngeal and pharyngeal plexus (Viduddha-cakra) at the junction of the spinal cord and the medulla oblongata with sixteen petals of smoky colour with the sixteen vowels on them. Above it is the Ajfiii-cakra between the eye-brows; it is the seat of the mind or the centre of all sense knowledge and dream knowledge. There are only two petals of white colour with the letters "h and kg" on them. Above all is the Sahasrara*. cukra in the highest cerebral regions. It is of thousand petals of