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Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita

by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words

This page relates ‘Bhavaprakasha (Ayurveda book)� found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.

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Bhāvaprakāśa (Āܰ岹 book)

Bhāvaprakāśa—The plants and herbs used in Āyurvedic medicine have been described in Bhāvaprakāśa. Bhāvaprakāśa, 󲹱ԾԲ, Śārṅgdhara ṃh are the three books which together are called Laghutrayī. ṇṭ is a part of Bhāvaprakāśa. The ṇṭ chapter is described separately in the Pūrvārdhaṇḍ. Where the multiplicative action of all kinds of plants, animals and earthly matter has been extensively considered. The author, Bhāvamiśra wrote this treatise in sixteenth century A.D. This was one of the best compilations of medical knowledge prevalent in the medieval period on the use of medicinal plants and treatment of various diseases. ū ṇḍ or first section has seven chapters and deals with the origin of Āܰ岹 chief gods and sages propagating it–Pañcabhūta ٰṇa-Āٳ; Indriya-manas; garbhotpatti-Śī-ṅg-avayava-ṣād ñԲ; پԲ-, Ṛt-, ; ṣa-dravyas, -dravyas, measurements, purification and oxidation of metals, oleation, 貹ñ첹, the examination of patient etc. are explained and several new drugs are introduced.

Description of different groups of drugs and articles of diet is dealt is twenty-four groups which farm part of chapter sixth is considered the specialty of Bhāvaprakāśa the author furnishes names, synonyms, names in different regions, properties and actions, tests etc., of drugs of all categories (vegetable animal and mineral origin). Apart from the drugs which have been in use since long, many new ones which have come to India through western countries and those used in the 'Unani' system of medicine have also been incorporated in this text. Hence Bhāvamiśra is given the Materia medica of Āܰ岹 with the addition of new drugs. This portion of the text is known popularly as Bhāvaprakāśa ṇṭ and has been published separately with detailed notes by many present-day scholars.

Madhyaṇḍ or middle/second section has seventy-one chapters dealing with the Բ or aetiology, ṣaṇa or symptomatology, پ of pathogenesis and 쾱ٲ or treatment of all diseases, with greater emphasis on Kāya쾱ٲ or inner medicine. Both kaṣṭauṣadha (formulae from vegetable drugs) and rasauṣadha (formulae from mercury and minerals) are mentioned in the treatment. Uttara Khaṇḍa-third and last section has only two chapters, one dealing with ī첹ṇa 쾱ٲ (vilification therapy) and the other with ⲹԲ 쾱ٲ (rejuvenation therapy)[1].

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Bhāvaprakāśa by Bhāvamiśra Vol. I–IV, trans. Kalishachandra Sengupta, Vaidyacarya Kalikinkara Senasharma & Ayurvedacharya Satya Shekhara Bhattyacharya (eds.), Kolkata, Deepayan, 2000, pp. 1- 395, 2-410, 1-278, 1-256.

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