TIL

Pali Dictionary

by U Kyaw Tun, et. al.

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Contents of this file:  gha-na | ghāna-dasaka |

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hgā-na

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A Process of Consciousness Initiated by an Odour

ghāna-dvāra-vīthi {Ga-na. dwa-ra. wi-hti.}

by U Kyaw Tun based on UMK-USL40 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/smell/smell.shtml

The initiator of the process is an odour gandha {gan~Da.}. But it can also be a sound sadda {thad~da.} or a sight or view cakkhu patha . The process proceeds in least two stages:

1. Initiation

The agent of initiation is an odour which is a chemical (or chemical molecules) coming through the air. It enters the human body through one of the five sense-doors pañca-dvaravajjana . Since the input signal is an odour (chemical term: a pheromone), the sense-door is the nose ghāna {Ga-na.}. The nose is acting like an outer door and is known as ghāna dvāra . It is capable of detecting thousands of different smells, and only a very few pheromone molecules are enough to be picked up by the nose to identify the smell. The actual part of the nose picking up the smell are called olfactory receptors. They occupy a stamp-sized area in the roof of your nasal cavity, the hollow space inside your nose.

Tiny hairs, made of nerve fibres, dangle from all your olfactory receptors. They are covered with a layer of mucus. The pheromone molecules dissolve in this mucus, and chemically reacts the chemically active part of the hairs. This chemical reaction releases chemical energy ( ghāna-viññāna-citta ) which is subsequently converted into electrical energy and an electrical signal  is passed along the nerve fiber to the central processing unit which is actually the brain. Please note that citta in the preceding line is not consciousness. The electrical signal -- the input-signal passing to the brain -- is sampaṭicchana .

2. Computation

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the brain examines the input-signal to determine its nature. This is provisionally identified as  votthapana .

The raw data of the incoming signal is converted into a chemical spectrum and is compared to the chemical spectra of odours stored in the memory. The first result is either positive (identified) or negative (unidentified). The negative signal activates another set of brain cells which sends signals to the eyes and the ears to pick up more signals from the source of the odour. These initiate secondary processes similar to the ghāna-dvāra-vīthi .

A positive signal can also initiate the above secondary processes. The overall mental activity can either provide a a pleasing sensation or a revulsion -- kāmajavana . The result of the whole computational process is registered in the memory tadāramana.

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ghāna

{Ga-na.}

UMK-USL p40
n. nose, sensory receptor of smell, olfactory organ
UKT: Fig 03. ghāna is the interior of the nose with scent receiving molecules.

PTS p257 .
ghāna -- (nt.) [Sk. ghrāṇa] the nose, usually in its function as organ of smell = sense of smell
e.g. ghānena gandhaŋ ghāyati = to smell an odour by means of the nose
In the enum. of the senses gh. is always mentioned in the 3rd place (after cakku (eye) and sota (ear))
ghāna-āyatana -- the organ of smell (UKT: the nose)
ghāna-dhātu -- the "element" (the chemical-molecules) of smell (UKT: pheromone-molecules)
ghāna-samphassa -- contact with the sense of smell

PTS p105
āyatana -- (nt.) [Sk. āyatana, not found in Vedas, but freq. in BSk. From ā + yam, cp. āyata. the pl. is āyatanā .] 1. stretch, extent, reach, compass, region; sphere, locus, place, spot; position, occasion . 2. exertion doing, working, practice, performance. 3. sphere of perception or sense in general, object of thought, sense-organ and object; relation, order. 
UKT: Fig 05. āyatana is the chemical reaction.

PTS p105
āyata -- [Sk. āyata] 1. (adj.) outstretched, extended, long, in length (with numeral). 2. (n.) bow