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 3 - Schools of Surgery in ancient India
40 (of 46)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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197
Kūttu Pāṭhakam and Kūṭiyāṭṭam have enough opportunity for informal
Sanskrit education.
The knowledge of Sanskrit as we have observed is necessary for
the performance of Kūttu, Pāṭhakam, and Kūṭiyāṭṭam. In fact the
performers are informal educaters of Sanskrit. The hearers and
spectactors of these arts acquire general knowledge in Sanskrit and
Purāṇas. The knowledge of Sanskrit words, the different meanings of
words etc. are imbibed by the regular hearer of these arts. An instance of
such education is mentioned by the K.P.C Bhattathiripad who heard a
Kūttu about Subhadhra Dhanañjayam by Mani Madhava Cakyar. He had
formerly understood that the word Dhananjaya means Arjuna. But Cākyār
explained that in addition to Arjuna, Dhananjaya means Agni or fire also.
This new meaning was conveyed to him through the interpretation of the
Cākyār. 47 Similar types of learning experiences are recorded by other
persons also.
48 During the kūttu Cākyār recites a number of verses denoting the
same meaning which is suitable to the context of the narative. For
example in the context of a svayamvara he could recite many verses
proper to that type of marriage relating it to several purāṇic stories of
svayamvara. He has freedom to recite such verses according to his
imagination. The verses he uses in one performance will be different from
