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Dhat Syndrome: Northern India |
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"Ayurveda
itself teaches a physiology of the production of sperm, based on the central
idea that there are seven essential constituents of the body (the seven
dhatus:
chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen) produced through a cycle
of successive internal cookings and transformations. The ultimate distilling,
the most concentrated and hence the most precious, is semen" (Bottero,
1991: 306).
"The
present study indicates that the attitudes toward semen loss constitute
an organized belief system... [more common in] low-education and low-income
groups... Semen is considered a precious material formed by the distillation
of blood. Forty meals gives rise to one drop of blood. Forty drops of blood
give rise to one drop of bone marrow. Forty drops of bone marrow give rise
to one drop of the elixir of life, semen. One ejaculation of semen will
lead to wastage of a wealth of energy. This belief can be traced back to
the holy scriptures (Sushruta Samhita, 1938; Charak Samhita, 1949; Gandhi,
1957; Kuma Sutra, 1967). It is being propagated by the lay and pseudoscientific
literature (Mishra, 1962; Chand, 1968) and has fascinated many scientific
investigators..." (Malhotra
and Wig, 1975: 526).
"Celibacy
improves the condition of your semen. However much semen you are able to
retain, you will receive in that proportion greater wisdom, improves action,
higher spirituality and increased knowledge. Moreover, you will acquire
the power to get whatever you want. (Yogacharya Bhagwandev 1992: 15)"
[Alter,
1997: 280]
"If
semen remains in the body, it is the essence of vitality, and many writers
spare no hyperbolic in their descriptions of a body glowing with energy
of semen.
Semen! What a beautiful, sparkling word! When reflecting on it one's mind is filled with grand, great, majestic, beautiful, and powerful emotions. [Shastri n.d.[a]:10]" [Alter, 1997: 284]
[Abstract]
"A large segment of the general public from all socioeconomic classes believe
that semen loss is harmful. Seminal fluid is considered an elixir of life
in the physical and mystical sense. Its preservation guarantees health,
longevity, and supernatural powers" (Malhotra
and Wig, 1975: 519).
"Nocturnal
emission, or svapna dosh (dream error), is given special consideration
by all authors. Kariraj Jagannath Shastri devotes his whole book to the
subject, and because of its 'involuntary' nature, calls svapna dosh the
worst of all 'personal diseases'"
(Alter,
1997: 287).
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