Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates 鈥楬istory of Ayurveda鈥� found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda鈥攖he ancient Indian Science of life鈥攚hich 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.
History of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补
Estimation of the time of history of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 since its origin is not possible exactly because the recorded history is available only from the Buddha period (600 B.C). Based on collected pieces of evidence like Vedic literature, archaeological excavations, reports of scientists, geologists etc. the history can be framed, estimated and classified as follows鈥�
1. A) Prehistoric period (stone age civilization)
a. Paleolithic age (old stone age civilization)鈥�2 million years to 13000 years BC.
b. Mesolithic age (middle stone age civilization)鈥�13000-10000 years BC.
c. Neolithic age (new stone age civilization)鈥�10000-6000 years BC.
B) Pre-Vedic period鈥�6000-5000 BC or 6000-2700 BC. , or Aryan civilization.
C) Vedic period-approximately 5000 years BC.
D) Post-Vedic period鈥�5000 years BC. To till date.
Prehistoric period鈥揟he existence of man on earth is regarded from more than I lakh years BC. The history can be divided as prehistoric (before the period of written documentation of history) and the historic period.
The prehistoric period ranges from stone age civilization to the historic period.
The primitive age or stone-age civilization can be grouped into their stages as follows鈥�
Palaeolithic age (Ole stone civilization, 200000 to 13000 years BC. )鈥揑n this period the man was a wandering hunter, he used to hunt animals with stones and eat raw flesh. He did not know about shelter and wearing clothes, he used to live in burrows and cover his body with leather or bark of trees.
Mesolithic age (Middle stone civilization, 13000 to 10000 years BC. )鈥揑n this period the man developed up to some extent. He used to hunt the animals with sharp stones, he started to cover the body with leaves and bark of trees, he learned to produce fire and developed the art of cooking.
Neolithic age (New stone civilization, 10000 to 6000 years BC. )鈥揑n this period the man started to prepare the instruments to hunt the animals like stone, wood, bone, ivory then afterwards with the bronze and copper. He used to wear clothes made up of leather, leaves, bark etc. He invented fire, learned cooking, realized the importance of living with cooperation, tamed the animals and developed the skill of agriculture. They worshipped mother, goddess and various minor deities.
The historians identified 3 regions by excavations鈥�
At the banks of the Nile river (Egypt civilization existed).
The area between Euphrates and Tigris river (summer and Babylonian civilizations existed).
At Sindh region (the Indus valley civilization existed). It is the oldest civilization among them all.
Pre Vedic periods鈥揑t is the period existing between the new stone age civilization and Vedic period. It might be the period of Aryan civilization. The Aryans landed at Sapta 30
Saindhava region (Punjab) between 2700-500 years BC. (Some scholars mentioned the period as 6000-5000 years BC). The Aryans originated at Denuv, Hungary and reached India via Jordan and Iran.
The Aryans used to live on the banks of rivers, they obeyed the orders of the head of the family (father), the mother was given freedom in the house, they used to pray the natural elements like Agni, 痴补谤耻峁嘺 etc. they used to follow the divine therapies, used to drink soma rasa as the choice, have the tradition of Guru-艢颈峁补-笔补谤补尘辫补谤腻 type of educated and used to do agriculture and cattle rearing[1].
Karav墨rya was one of the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvantari, co-student of Su艣ruta and the author of Karav墨rya-厂补峁僪颈迟腻 on 艢补濒测补 肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 which is not available now. In 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 we find the description of 碍补谤补惫墨谤补pura and D峁涐梗dvat墨 is famous in Veda. He might live at 碍补谤补惫墨谤补pura on the banks of river D峁涐梗dvat墨[2]. The word meaning of 碍补谤补惫墨谤补 skill in practicing surgery. In 叠丑补惫颈峁补 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, it is stated that he was an expert in surgery. His reference was quoted in Madhuko艣a commentary on 惭腻诲丑补惫补 狈颈诲腻苍补, 础迟颈蝉腻谤补 笔谤补办补谤补峁嘺[3].
Aurabhra was one of the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvantari and contemporary of Su艣ruta. He wrote a treatise named. Aurabhra Tantra on 艢补濒测补 tantra which is not available now. The word Aurabhra seems to have originated from the word 鈥�耻谤补产丑谤补蝉测腻辫补迟测补尘鈥檕r 鈥�urabhre 产丑补惫补岣�鈥� and the meaning person or country[4]. As per the history concerned, he might have belonged to urabhrade艣a or might have lived near Urnavathi river[5]. It is also known from 鈥楥ikits膩kalik膩鈥� that Aupadhenava and Aurabhra were proficient in the art of surgery. Su艣ruta, 岣宎lha峁嘺, Ga峁嘺n膩tha Sen, Indu etc., mentioned his name as a surgeon.
Aupadhenava was one of the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvantari and contemporary of Su艣ruta. He wrote a treatise named Aupadhenava-艢补濒测补-Tantra which is not available now[6]. 鈥�upadhenorapatyam鈥欌�搕he word Aupadhenava is derived from this etymology. 膧肠腻谤测补 of this name is not found elsewhere. But in this example of the P膩ni峁嚹珁a 厂奴迟谤补, the Mah膩bh膩峁ak膩ra has referred to the word 鈥楢upagava鈥� as an offspring of 鈥楿pagu鈥�. It is known that he might be the son of Aurabhra[7]. There is no definite information regarding the place and birth of Aupadhenava. 岣宎lha峁嘺 stated the in Su艣ruta Uttarastana thirtyninth chapter the 艣loka 鈥�诲辞峁-alpo ahita 蝉补尘产丑奴迟补岣�鈥� was as per Aupadhenava. It is known from 鈥楥ikits膩 碍补濒颈办腻鈥� that the Aupadhenava and Aurabhra were proficient in the art of surgery.
痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺 was one of the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvantari, co-student of Su艣ruta the author or 痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 on 艢补濒测补 tantra which is not available now.
Ganatha Sen in his 笔谤补迟测补办峁 艢补谤墨谤补 mentioned that 痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 was even bigger than Su艣ruta 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 (surgical techniques bandages which are not in Su艣ruta were mentioned in 痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺 厂补峁僪颈迟腻). 岣宎lha峁嘺 quoted in his commentary the concept of 痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺 while discussing the surgical treatments of 础艣尘补谤墨. Cakrap膩峁噄 Da峁弓a also quoted the references and surgical techniques of 痴补颈迟补谤补峁嘺[8].
Pau峁al膩vata was one of the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvantari Co-student of Su艣ruta and the author of Pau峁al膩va Tantra which is not available now. The ancient 膧肠腻谤测补s were often named after their mothers, fathers, 膧肠腻谤测补s, genus, and other attributes. The word Pu峁alabadha was probably a symbol of this. As per the 岣宎lha峁嘺 the 鈥�tadagnin膩 ra帽jita峁� raktatva峁� pratipadyate |鈥� was the concept of Pau峁al膩vata. Indu, Su艣ruta, 岣宎lha峁嘺 and Cakrap膩峁噄 etc., mentioned him as the author of 艢补濒测补-tantra. Gopurarak峁ta was one the disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvatari, co-student of Su艣ruta and the author of Gopurarak峁ta-tantra which is not available now. His name might be given for protecting temples from invaders, Gopura (temples), Rak峁ta (protecting). 岣宎lha峁嘺 considered Gopura and Rak峁ta as two persons but others rejected it. He was also mentioned in Tatva-颁补苍诲谤颈办腻. 岣宎lha峁嘺, Cakrap膩峁噄, 艢r墨ka峁囜弓hadatta and Vijayak峁ta quoted Bh膩luki-tantra references in their treatises[9].
Bhoja was a contemporary of Su艣ruta. Bhoja-厂补峁僪颈迟腻 was famous among the texts on 艢补濒测补-tantra. He is very ancient and different from king Bhoja. Many references related to Bhoja-厂补峁僪颈迟腻 are available; few of them are as follows -Su艣ruta-厂奴迟谤补 8th chapter (艢腻蝉迟谤补 笔补谤颈尘腻峁嘺); 惭腻诲丑补惫补 狈颈诲腻苍补 (搁腻箩补测补办峁腻) etc.
K膩峁卥膩yana was a reputed physician of 叠腻丑濒颈办补. His name appears in Atharva-Veda as a composer of Mantras. He participated in the debate about Rasa-蝉补峁僰丑测腻. He mentioned that the Rasa are innumerable. He participated in the debate on the origin of man and disease. He opined that Praj膩pati is the cause for both. He participated in the debate on the development of fetal organs. He opined that 贬峁沝补测补 developed first because it is the seat of consciousness and life. He was the disciple of Dhanvatari along with Aupadhenava, Aurabhra etc.
Varyovid was the king of 碍腻艣颈, a great scholar of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补, a contemporary of 膧迟谤别测补, 碍腻艣测补辫补 etc. 碍腻艣测补辫补 taught pediatrics to the king Varyovid. As per Caraka-厂补峁僪颈迟腻, a discussion between 碍腻艣测补辫补 and Varyovid occurred about the merits and demerits of 痴腻迟补. It is believed that Punarvasu 膧迟谤别测补 and K峁涐梗峁嚹乼reya are one and same but some people identify them as different. He participated in the debates of the sages with other saints. As per 艢r墨ka峁囜弓hadatta and 艢颈惫补d膩s Sen he was a specialist in 艢膩l膩kya. Many formulations are described to him, like Nagar膩di 颁奴谤峁嘺.
Nimi was the 膧肠腻谤测补 of 艢腻濒腻办测补-罢补苍迟谤补 who learned the 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra. 膧肠腻谤测补 Nimi was the first man who composed a treatise on 艢腻濒腻办测补-罢补苍迟谤补 which is also known as Nimitantra or Videha-Tantra. The word Nimi, Videha, Janaka etc. appears to be synonyms. The original book of Nimitantra is not available. As per 岣宎lha峁嘺 Nimi was one of the twelve disciples of Divod膩sa Dhanvatari.
骋腻谤驳测补 was a famous scholar of Sanskrit and Nirukta. He lived before P膩峁噄ni and was a contemporary of Nimi, K膩峁卥膩yana etc. In Hasti-膧测耻谤惫别诲补 of 笔腻濒补办腻辫测补 峁涐梗i, it is stated that he was present in the meeting of Romap膩da, a friend of Da艣aratha. Harishastri Paradkar, the editor of A峁ａ弓膩峁単a 贬峁沝补测补 said that he wrote a treatise on 艢腻濒腻办测补-罢补苍迟谤补. He was a participant in the conference of sages held at the slopes of 贬颈尘腻濒补测补蝉. He was the son of saint Garga who belonged to Gargagotra[10].
岣宎lha峁嘺 mentioned S膩tyaki as the author of 艢膩l膩kya text. He introduced the couching technique for the treatment of cataract. Even now this method is being practiced by some people in north India. The tradition is known as S膩tyak墨ya Samprad膩ya. He was the brother of Lord 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 and friend of Arjuna.
The original book of Bh峁沢u-Tantra is not available but his preparation is available in 艢膩l膩kya literature for the treatment of Timira, Kacha, 艢耻办谤补 etc.
Texts on Kaum膩rbh峁泃ya of Ancient time are 碍腻艣测补辫补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻, 痴峁沝诲丑补 闯墨惫补办补 罢补苍迟谤补峁�, Bindaka 罢补苍迟谤补峁�, Parvataka 罢补苍迟谤补峁� etc. At present 碍腻艣测补辫补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 or 痴峁沝诲丑补 闯墨惫补办补 罢补苍迟谤补峁� only remained as the reference book for Kaum膩rbh峁泃ya. 闯墨惫补办补 belongs to the 碍腻艣测补辫补 tradition and he was an expert in Kaum膩rbh峁泃ya. Three 闯墨惫补办补s are found in history. They are as follows鈥�
闯墨惫补办补-I -痴峁沝诲丑补 闯墨惫补办补, son of sage Rucika, of Bh峁沢u genealogy and disciple of 碍腻艣测补辫补 learned 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra. He was the real Pediatrician and the disciple of 碍腻艣测补辫补 who belonged to the period of 碍腻艣测补辫补 i.e., 1500鈥�1000 BC. He wrote as 痴峁沝诲丑补 闯墨惫补办补 罢补苍迟谤补峁�. First 闯墨惫补办补 was the Kaum膩rbh峁泃ya 膧肠腻谤测补 and the disciple of 碍腻艣测补辫补.
闯墨惫补办补-II -闯墨惫补办补 of Buddha period 600 BC鈥摯衬共拱觳� was considered as the eminent physician to Buddha. He was born to a call girl and was rejected by his mother, then bought up by the prince Abhaya to the Royal Palace and so-called 碍耻尘腻谤补 B膩cc膩. He learned the 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from the renowned scholar, 膧迟谤别测补 at Tak峁艣墨l膩 University for seven years. He was appointed as royal physician to King Bimbis膩ra. Second 闯墨惫补办补 was a Physician and surgeon of Buddha Period. Miracles did by 闯墨惫补办补 i.e.鈥揟he relieved headache of 厂腻办别迟补 with Nasyakarma. Treated fistula in Anus of king Bimbis膩ra, etc.
闯墨惫补办补-III -This 闯墨惫补办补 was neither a physician nor a pediatrician. He was a king later promulgated Jainism and learned a Vi峁hara Mantra from a Gandharva with the effect that Mantra and simple touch were capable of removing the toxic effects. Third 闯墨惫补办补 was the propagator of Jainism[11].
膧测耻谤惫别诲补 had two traditions. The traditions of the Vedas are Lord Rudra or 艢颈惫补, the first 叠丑颈峁办 and the tradition of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 are 叠谤补丑尘腻 is the first advisor. Another part of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 is in the 搁补蝉补艣腻蝉迟谤补, Lord 艢颈惫补 is considered to be the chief advisor. The 峁歡veda is the oldest in Vedic literature, dating to 4000 BC to 6000 BC. We find the first description of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from 峁歡veda and were available in the form of short Mantra. S膩maveda and Yajurveda were the descriptions of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补. We find the detail description of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from the Atharvaveda. The relationship of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 is mainly with Atharvaveda and the Atharvaveda is called the 膧yurvedic appendage. 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 has been recognized as the fifth Veda along with the four Vedas in the 碍腻艣测补辫补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻. In the descent narrative of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补, the period from Brahma to Indra is the Vedic period and then the 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 period began. There are two 叠丑颈峁办 in Vedic literature like鈥揇aivabhi峁k and Manu峁abhi峁k. The name of Daivabhi峁k is Agni, Rudra, 痴补谤耻峁嘺, 础艣惫颈苍, Marut and 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨. The names of the sages of the Vedic mantra and the 膧yurvedic mantra are found in the text of Sarv膩nukramanik膩. Among them, there is the description of seventy-six sages like Atharv膩, Atri, Atharv膩峁単ir膩, a峁単ir膩, 叠峁沨补蝉辫补迟颈, 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补, Manu, Gautama, 艢au峁嘺ka, Savit膩 etc. According to the Caraka- 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 in the 膧yurvedic tradition, 叠丑补谤补诲惫腻箩补 received his knowledge of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra in a sage council organized during the time of Mahar峁 膧迟谤别测补. According to Su艣ruta-厂补峁僪颈迟腻, Dhanvatari received his knowledge of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra. V膩gbhatta said that Punarvasu 膧迟谤别测补, Dhanvatari, 叠丑补谤补诲惫腻箩补, Nimi, 碍腻艣测补辫补 etc. Mahar峁s, seeing that their families were suffering from diseases, learned 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra. The ten sages received his knowledge of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 from Indra. Mahar峁 Bh峁沢u was the son of 叠谤补丑尘腻. According to historians, Bh峁沢u was a seer of many Atharvedic hymns. That is why another name of Atharvaveda is Bh峁沢u-A峁単ir膩veda. It is known from the 鈥�bh峁沢upadi峁ａ弓a峁僪i谤补蝉腻测补苍补峁僺y膩t |鈥�, mentioned in the commentary of Him膩dr墨 of A峁ａ弓膩峁単a-贬峁沝补测补 that Bh峁沢u must have known about 膧测耻谤惫别诲补. Bh峁沢u is considered to be the first Praj膩pati in the description of twenty-one Praj膩pati. According to the lineage, 艢耻办谤补 or Kavi originated from his wife 顿颈惫测腻 and Cyavana鈥檚 origin was from Paulam墨.
Bh峁沢u and A峁単ir膩, the seers of some the 蝉奴办迟补蝉 of the Atharvaveda, are considered to be connected according to the B峁沨atsarv膩nukrama峁噄. A峁単ir膩 is the m膩nasputra of Brahma鈥檚. A峁単ir膩鈥檚 lineage was very wide. 膧yurvedic knowledge was gradually propagated in this dynasty, but in the text of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 is no found.
Pathogenesis and prognosis of some important diseases coming within the realm of K膩ya肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 (inner medicine). The fourth section 颁颈办颈迟蝉腻蝉迟丑腻苍补 twenty-two chapters elaborating the methods of treatment of all major organic diseases, including efficacious medicinal recipes, diet and care of the patient. The fifth section Kalpa-siddhi 蝉迟丑腻苍补 has six chapters dealing with the preparation of recipes, administration of purificatory therapies and management of complications; and principles of pharmacy. The sixth and the last section Uttara 蝉迟丑腻苍补 is devoted to the remaining seven branches of 膧测耻谤惫别诲补. It has forty chapters in total; divided as follows, viz. three for B膩la Cikits膩 or demonology psychiatry, seventeen for V峁沝hv膩峁単a-肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or diseases of organs in the head, sub-divided again nine for Netra肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or ophthalmology, two for Kar峁嘺肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or otology, two for N膩s膩肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or rhinology, two for Mukha肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or mouth, teeth and throat, and two for 艢iraroga or diseases of the head. 艢补濒测补 肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or surgery has ten chapters; 顿补峁冡梗峁璻补 or toxicology has four; Jaracikitsa or 谤补蝉腻测补苍补 or rejuvenation therapy, geriatrics and 痴峁涐梗补 or 痴腻箩墨办补谤补峁嘺 or vilification therapy or aphrodisiacs have one chapter each. The greater portion of the text being devoted to K膩ya肠颈办颈迟蝉腻 or inner medicine is thus conspicuous.
The Atharvaveda describes four types of treatment. Namely 膧迟丑补谤惫补峁嚹� Cikits膩, 膧峁単iras墨 Cikits膩, 顿补颈惫墨 Cikits膩, and M膩nav墨 Cikits膩. The Vedas describe ways to stay healthy, e.g., five healer element, consumption of pure and unblemished food, rules of eating, do not stop the velocity of stool urine, preventing Trido峁ja disorders, adopt the 厂腻迟迟惫颈办补 ideas, be happy, avoiding sins and bad deeds, keep the body strong and getting up before sunrise. The ways to gain longevity are as follows鈥揳voiding Rajogu峁嘺 and Tamogu峁嘺; adopt the truth; restraint of life and 础辫腻苍补 艣补办迟颈; relinquishment of anxiety; gain power from sun and wind; pr膩峁嘺艣补办迟颈 with fire; abandonment and misery; drug intake; sun, moon and medicines; renounce ignorance and adopt the path of knowledge; will power and spiritual force; use of pure water; and gem and gemstone holding[12].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
O. Bohtlingk and R. Roth, Sanskrit Worterbuch Vol. I., St. Petersburg, Buchdr. der K. Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1864, p.112.
[3]:
[4]:
[5]:
E. A. Wallis Budge, Babilonian Life and History, New York, Dorset Press, 1991, pp. 221-223.
[6]:
S. S奴. 鈥�1/9; Anant Ram Sharma (ed.), Su艣ruta 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 of Mahar峁 Su艣ruta -Vol. I, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan, 2018, p. 8.
[7]:
aupagavery奴na艣ch膩tr膩 aupagav墨y膩岣� |; Mah膩bh膩峁a鈥�4/1/6/90.
[8]:
History of Indian Medicine鈥�3 Volumes, Grindranath Mukhopadhyaya, Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Private Limited, 2003, p. 603
[9]:
腻蝉补辫迟补谤腻迟谤补峁� 迟补谤耻峁嘺峁� jvaram膩hurman墨峁峁嘺岣� |
madhya峁� dv膩da艣ar膩tra峁� tu pur膩峁嘺mata uttaram || History of Indian Medicine鈥�3 Volumes, Grindranath Mukhopadhyaya, Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Private Limited, 2003, p. 604.
[10]:
Dingari Lakshmana Chary, A Text Book of Padartha Vijnana Evam Ayurveda Itihasa, Delhi, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, 2017, pp. 320-326.
[11]: