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Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita

by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words

This page relates ‘Treatment of Trishna (excessive thirst)� 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.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Treatment of ṛṣṇ� (excessive thirst)

Atharva Veda is a charm against ṛṣṇ�. The Atharvaveda mentions the disease of ṛṣṇ� or thirst[1]. It means getting thirstier or dying of more thirst. When the incidence of bile in the body is high, air rises and flows to the palate, this results in thirst or thirst disease. Excessive thirst caused by some disease receives special attention in Atharva Veda. II. 29 with special parlance at ś첹 ūٰ[2]. The Interesting practice is as follows: while the priest recites II.29 at day-break, the patient and a healthy person sit back-to-back. The patient faces east. The performer then stirs a drink in a cup of Vetasa using two reeds on the head of the patient and then gives it to the healthy person. Thus, the thirst of the person is transferred. The patient is then given freshly drawn water to drink. Finally, while reciting II.29.6 the two are covered with the same garment and are given the stirred liquid to drink.

The Atharvaveda, speaks of the use of drugs for the treatment of this disease. The Atharvaveda also mentions the application of other medicines: namely-Avakā, ū, Puṇḍrīka, Ѳū첹, Barley, Banyan tree, Ś etc.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

tṛṣṇāmāra� kṣudhāmāramatho akṣaparājayam |
apāmārga tvaya vaya� sarva� tadapa mṛjmahe ||
(AV. –I/17/7); Acarya Vedanta Tirtha (ed.), Atharvaveda–Vol. 1, Delhi, Manoj Publication, 2012, p. 175.

[2]:

pārthivasyetyudyati pṛṣṭasaṃhitāvupaveśayati || prāṅmukha� 󾱳ٲ� pratyaṅmukhama󾱳ٲ� śākhāsūpaveśya vaitase camasa upamanthanībhyā� tṛṣṇāgṛhītasya śirasi manthamupathyātṛṣitāya prayacchati || tasmiṃstṛṣṇāṃ saṃnayati || ud dhṛtamudaka� pāyayati || savāsināviti maṃtroktam || (ś첹 ūٰ-27.9-13); Atharvavedīya–ś� Gṛhyasūtra� (Dārilakeśavayosa�-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahita�), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office,2009, p. 64.

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