the Jiujitsu (Skr. Yuyutsu, t,he intending fighter) of modern Japan, (i). '
Sushnita's Physiology:— But if Sushruta is admired so much for his practical and scientific past of mind, it is his writings on Physiology, which is practicaly- the same as the one adopted by all schools of the Ayurveda) which , have appeared as a stumbling block to the intelligence of many a Western and and Eastern scholar. European Sanskritists have thought fit to translate "Vayu," "Pittam" and "Kapham" (the three main physiological functions) as air, bile and phlegm. But nothing could be more misleading, or erroneous than that. A right understanding of the science of the Ayurvedic medicine, in all its branches, hinges on a right conception of the Vayu. Pittam and Kapham, so we should like to clear up the nature of these three physiological factors before proceeding farther in our enquiry.
Antiquity of the division:— A reference to these three physiological factors of Vayu, Pittam and Kapham, under the name of Tridhatu. is first met with in the Rikveda, (3). Sayana explains the term as a synonvm for Vayu, Pittam and Kapham. The Vedic physicians possessed at least a considerable knowledge of the process of digestion(4), the circulation of gas in the human organism, and of
(1) It is anions that the phonetic and etymological resemblance between Sanskrit "Juyutsu" and Japanese "Jiujitsu" (would be fighter) should be so close. Perhaps it was the Buddhist missionaries (and they were not always peaceful hermits) who had carried with them a system of scientific wrestling from India, which was subsequently developed in Japan. Compare with the complete Kano, Jiu-jitsu (Jeudo) by H. Irving Hancock and Katsukuma Higashi. Chart I and III.
(3) (
Indic characters)
Rik. Samhita. I. 3, 6.
Sayana explains it as
(4) (Indic characters)
Chhandagya Brihmana.
