The Dik-gajas (Elephants of the Quarters)

The research into the descriptions of the Puranas done by this author coupled with an understanding of respiratory anatomy is indicating that the famous "dik-gajas" (Elephants of the Quarters) could mean either the lobar or the segmental bronchi of the "respiratory lotus" (lung / bronchial tree).

In any case, it is pretty apparent that these elephants are the zoomorphised version of the heavier bronchi, excluding, of course, the primary bronchus. They are regarded as elephants because they are relatively heavy structures. Moreover they are strong because they support the (respiratory) world on their backs (or, trunks). This conception of support has without doubt a physiological underpinning as well.


Now, with regard to direction (dik), the respiratory anatomists of the ancient world seemed to have regarded these bronchi as some sort of compass for determining the "direction" or anatomical location ("superior," "inferior," etc.) within the lung. Therefore, taking into account all these features, these bronchi are the "dik-gajas," the "direction-elephants."


As the bronchi branch in a pattern known as dichotomous branching, in an idealized model, the four lobar bronchi can be said to give rise to eight sub-lobar bronchi and, in that case, it is perhaps these eight that would be referred to as the "asta dik-gajas," the eight elephants of the quarters. Or, it may be the case that only one lung is considered and it is the eight segmental bronchi of the left lung that is taken to mean the eight dik-gajas?