Essay name: Surgery in ancient India (Study)
Author:
P. P. Prathapan
Affiliation: Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit / Department of Sanskrit Sahitya
This essay studies Surgery in ancient India based on Sanskrit sources such as the Sushruta Samhita. These references indicate evidence of theoretical and practical knowledge of hygiene rivaling contemporary routine practices. Further topics include Ayurveda, a historical study of surgery, surgical schools and instruments used in ancient India.
Chapter 1 - Ayurveda and Sanskrit literature
31 (of 54)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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of 峁歴i Bharadv膩ja at Pray膩ga was one of the biggest and most important
hermitage for education in Northern India. Taksa艣ila was another noted
centre of learning. Dhoumya was the famous teacher of this centre and
the tradition was continued by his three famous disciples, Upamanyu,
膧runi and Veda. Kaca and Devayani was another ideal students in the
Asrama of Suskr膩c膩rya.
In the period of epics women were not prohibited from receiving
education. The epic age gives examples of women of profound learning
and high moral character. Sit膩 and Draupadi are the most famous
examples in the case of epics.
In Mah膩bh膩rata Kunti had acquired thorough knowledge of his
Atharvaveda. The R膩m膩ya峁嘺 contemplates women who were Bhiksunis.
The best example of this is Sabari, the disciple of Matanga." In the
38 Mah膩bh膩rata Ast膩vakra converses with an old women who describes
herself as Brahmach膩rini. The daughter of Sandilya was also a
Brahmac膩ri峁噄. Janaka had also a philosophical discussion with Bhiksuni
厂耻濒辞产丑腻.
39 40
In the R膩m膩ya峁嘺," the king is expected to study following
subjects. Dhanurveda, Vedas, N墨ti艣膩stra and the art (艣ik峁) of taming
elephants and horses besides the art of painting (alekhya), writing (lekhya),
jumping (langhana) and swimming (plavana). Another passage mentions
