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Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita

by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words

This page relates �5a. Worm infestation (Krimi) in the Atharvaveda� 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.

5a. Worm infestation (Kṛmi) in the Atharvaveda

All living organisms including plants and mammals can be infected by diseases caused by parasites. The parasitic diseases are caused by–amoebiasis, ascariasis, babesiosis, Chagas disease, clonorchiasis, cryptosporidiosis, diphyllobothriasis, dracunculiasis, echinococcosis, elephantiasis, enterobiasis, fascioliasis, fasciolopsiasis, filariasis, giardiasis, gnathostomiasis, hymenolepiasis, isosporiasis, Katayama fever, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, malaria, metagonimiasis, myiasis, onchocerciasis, pediculosis, scabies, schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, strongyloidiasis, taeniasis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis and trichuriasis. The scientist identified parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Balantidium coli, Cestoda, Entamoeba histolytica, Fasciola hepatica, Giardia lamblia, Hookworm, Leishmania, Liver fluke, Loa-loa, Pinworm, Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma, Strongyloides stercoralis, Tapeworm, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma, Whipworm and Wuchereria bancrofti[1].

In the Vedas, pathogens are called Worms. There are two types worms namely ṛṣṭa and ṛṣṭa[2]. Worms can be anywhere anybody. Such as intestine, head, back etc.[3] In Atharvaveda, various types of worm disease enter the body along with food items. The bacteria of this disease enter the body with milk, curd, raw and cooked food, agricultural food, and water etc.[4] The worm enters into the body due to some causes of intercourse contact[5]. Such diseases have been called Jāyānya or Jāyenya[6]. The symptoms of worm infestation as described in 󲹱 Բ are fever discolouration of body, pain heartache, depression vertigo, disliking of food and diarrhoea[7].

In Atharvaveda, there are provisions of three specific charms to cast spells against worm related diseases. The first two charms are generally used for adult patients but the third one is specifically applied against worms in children.

In the ūٲ of II.31, it is described that the great mill-stone belongs to Lord Indra and it is the crusher of every worm to be crushed together as Khalva-grains with mill-stone[8]. In the next hymn, it is said that all the seen and unseen worms have been bruised and the algaṇḍūs, the śalunas, the worms are ground up with the spell[9]. The crusher is like a great deadly weapon with which the worms are hit hard and if any of them are left would be destroyed with the spell[10]. The next hymn said that the worm residing in the ribs and other worms are destroyed with the spell[11]. The following hymn says that the worms living in the mountains, in the woods, in the herbs, in the cattle, in the water and our body should be crushed hard[12].

In the first hymn in the ūٲ 32 of II, pray the Sun or Ā徱ٲⲹ to smite upon the worms while rising and destroy the worms with its rays the worms that are within the cow[13]. In the next hymn the worms of many forms i.e., four-eyed, the variegated the whitish should be crushed thoroughly[14]. The worms would be slain like Kaṇva, like Jamadagni and of Agastya[15]. The king of all worms, the chief of all worms, the mother of all worms, the brother and sister of all worms are crushed to death[16]. All the neighbours or veśas, and the further neighbours of all worms are destroyed completely[17]. In the concluding hymn, spells are cast to crush up the two horns of the worms with which it attacks and split its receptacle which is its poison holder[18].

In the ūٲ of V.23, the heaven is prayed to work in the body on the earth in the divine ī and both in Indra and Agni to grind up the worm[19]. In the hymn lord Indra is prayed and requested to destroy all kinds of worms in the boy with the help of the formidable spell[20]. The worm that creeps about his eyes, in his nostrils and to the midst of teeth they grind up[21]. The different forms of worms like black, red, brown, browneared, the vulture and the cuckoo are crushed. The worm was white and black and irrespective of all forms-are grind up[22]. The Sun is the slayer of all seen and unseen worms slaughtering all worms. The worms including yevāṣās, the kaṣkaṣās, the stirrers etc., are crushed. The yevāṣa are ground and smashed like Khalva-grains in a millstone. The three-headed, the tree humped, the variegated the whitish worms crushed the ribs of it. The worms like Kaṇva, Jamadagni, and Agastya are mashed together. The king of the worms and the prime of them have been Slaughtered along with its mother, brother and sister. All the neighbours of the worm are slaughtered. The head of the worms and the female worms are smashed and their mouths are burned with fire[23].

By reciting the II.31 with the oblation of Khalvaṅga, algaṇḍū and Hanana mixed with ghee is offered. The young worms are stuck around a dark-spotted arrow from the right to the left roasting in fire using worms as fire woodturning face to the south, dust is thrown and spilt all over the patient body with the help of the left hand. According to will in case of the worms in children recitation of V.23 with using ī instead of the rite of the arrow[24]. The performer then places the child on the lap of his mother facing the west of the five, heating the lease of a pestle with batter. The child is then applied with a mixture of Śigruparṇa and butter. The dried roots of śī burned while reciting. Thus, the child is purified with Twenty-one śī roots[25].

In four ṇḍ of sūkta thirty-seven of the first hymn, a specific plant or herb is invoked and praised by saying that it is the herb with which the Atharvans and also śⲹ貹, Kaṇva and Agastya had slain the demons. Here demons refer to diseases[26]. In another hymn, the specific plant is praised by saying that with this plant Apsaras and Gandharvas and demons are expelled. Here the plant is addressed as 'Goat horned one'[27]. In the next hymn, Apsaras are identified and expelled with the help of the herbs like Gulgulu, Pīlā, Naladī, Aukṣagandhi, and Pramandanī[28]. This hymn is addressed to the Apsaras stating that their presence has been recognized with the help of great trees with crests like śٳٳ, Nyagrodha[29]. The next hymn also addresses the Apsaras in the similar fashions by the station that their presence has been identified with their green and whitish swings and with the sound of cymbals and lutes[30].

In the next hymn Arāṭakī, the goat horned, the sharp horned, the mighty herb is praised to have expelled disease[31]. In the next hymn the crested dancing Gandharva, the lord of the Apsarā whose testicles are split and penis is bound[32]. In another hymn, Indra is described to have destroyed the oblation-eating, Avakā-eating Gandharvas with his missiles, countless arrows made of iron[33]. The next hymn also describes how Indra destroys the oblation eating, Avakā eating Gandharvas with the help of his golden arrows[34]. In the next hymn, the same herb is praised for destroying the Avakā eating being, the Piśācas[35]. This hymn Gandharva assumes the shape of a dog, ape and handsome young men cure the women and seduce them then these Gandharvas are expelled with the herb[36]. In the next hymn, the mortal ones like wives and husbands are requested to run away[37].

Finally, it can be said that in the Atharvaveda, Agni has been told to destroy the disease and worm and it is said to be an excellent doctor[38]. In the Atharvaveda, it is said to be an exterminator of the Sun[39]. The rays of the Sun destroy the worms in the same way, as the stones are crushed[40]. Yajña Samidhā has been called deworming[41]. Yajña has been called the best remedy for deworming. In the Atharvaveda, Bacā medicine is called anthelmintic[42]. Bacā is another name for Ūgragandhā[43]. According to Atharvaveda, four sages namely Atri, Kaṇva, Jamadagni and Agastya rules destroy worms. They discovered some herbs that quickly destroyed vermin. In the Atharvaveda Anjana Ѳṇi, Jaṅgiḍa Ѳṇi, Pratisara Ѳṇi and Śatavāra Ѳṇi have been described as an insecticide. In the Atharvaveda, these drugs have been called vermin destroyers such as ī, ṣṭ, Gulgulu, Tārṣṭāgha, Śī, ṣa貹, ṛśn貹ṇi[44]. Its root and branch are anthelmintic. In Atharvaveda, the following medicines are deworming such as Gulgulu, Pīlā, Naladī, Aukṣagandhi, Pramandanī[45]. Ჹśṛṅī is called deworming[46]. The Meṣaśṛṅgī is called Ჹśṛṅī. The fruits of this tree are deworming and detoxifying. Upavāka or Upavākā medicine is mentioned in Maitrāyaṇ� ṃh etc.[47] it is best medicine for stomach worms.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

󲹱-Բ of 󲹱첹 with the Commentary Madhukoṣa by Vijayarakṣita & Śrīkaṇṭhadatta, Brahmanand Tripathi(ed.), trans. Kanjiv Lochan, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan, 2018, p. 229.

[2]:

dṛṣṭamadṛṣṭamatṛhamatho kurūmatṛham | (AV. -II/31/2); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh -Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 125.

[3]:

anvāntrya� śīrṣarṇyematho pārṣṭeya� krimīn | (AV. -II/31/4); Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 258.

[4]:

AV. -V/29/1-15; Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -3, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, pp. 170-178.

[5]:

Բٲ� yatamo dadambha kravyād yātūnā� śayane śayānam | (AV. -V/29/9); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh -Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 458.

[6]:

貹ṣ� nya� patati | (VII.76.4); Acarya Vedanta Tirtha (ed.), Atharvaveda–Vol. 1, Delhi, Manoj Publication, 2012, p. 408.

[7]:

jvaro ṇa śū� ṛdDz� 岹Բ� |
bhaktadveṣo'tisāraśca sañjātakrimilakṣaṇam ||
(Mā. Ni. �7/5); 󲹱-Բ of 󲹱첹 with the Commentary Madhukoṣa by Vijayarakṣita & Śrīkaṇṭhadatta, Brahmanand Tripathi(ed.), trans. Kanjiv Lochan, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan, 2018, p. 231.

[8]:

indrasya yā ī dṛṣat krimerviśvasya tarhaṇ� |
tayā pinaṣmi sa� krimīn dṛṣadā khalvā� iva ||
(AV. –II.31.1);K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh -Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 125.

[9]:

dṛṣṭamadṛṣṭamatṛhamatho kurūrumatṛham |
algaṇḍūntsarvāñchalunān krimīn vacasā jambhayāmasi ||
(AV. –II.31.2);Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -1, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 630.

[10]:

algaṇḍū n hanmi 󲹳 vadhena dū nā adū nā arasā abhūvan |
śiṣṭānaśiṣṭān ni tirāmi vācā yathā krimīṇāṃ nakirucchiṣātai ||
(AV. –II.31.3);Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 258.

[11]:

anvāntrya� śīrṣarṇye'matho pāṣṭa?[?]ya� krimīn |
avaskava� vyadhvara� krimīn vacasā jambhayāmasi ||
(AV. –II.31.4);K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 126.

[12]:

ye krimaya� parvateṣu vaneṣvoṣadhīṣu paśuṣvapsva'nta |
ye aska� tanvaviviśu� sarva� taddhanmi janima krimīṇām ||
(AV. –II.31.5); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -1, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 633.

[13]:

udyannāditya� krimīn hantu nimrocan hantu ś� | ye Գٲ� krimayo gavi || (AV. –II.32.1);Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 259.

[14]:

viśvarūpa� caturakṣa� krimi sāraṅgamarjunam |
śṛṇāmyasya pṛṣṭīrapi vṛścāmi yacchira� ||
(AV. –II.32.2);K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 127.

[15]:

atrivad va� krimayo hanmi kaṇvavajjamadagnivat |
agastyasya brahmaṇ� sa� pinaṣmyaha� krimīn ||
(AV. –II.32.3);Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -1, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 636.

[16]:

hato krimīṇāmutaiṣāṃ sthapatirhata� |
hato hatatā krimirhatabhrātā hatasvasā ||
(AV. –II.32.4);Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 259.

[17]:

󲹳 asya veśaso hatāsa� pariveśasa� |
atho ye kṣullakā iva sarve te krimayo hatā� ||
(AV. –II.32.5);K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 128.

[18]:

pra te śṛṇāmi śṛṅge yābhyā� vitudāyasi |
bhinadmi te kuṣumbha� yaste viṣadhāna� ||
(AV. –II.32.6);Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -1, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 638.

[19]:

ote me dyāvāpṛthivī otā ī sarasvatī |
otau ma indraścāgniśca krimi� jambhayatāmiti ||
(AV. –V.23.1);Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 398.

[20]:

asyendra kurasya krimīn dhanapate jahi |
hatā viśvā arātaya ugreṇa vacasā mama ||
(AV. –V.23.2);K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 434.

[21]:

yo akṣyau parisarpati yo nāse parisarpati |
datā� yo madhya� gacchati ta� krimi� jambhayāmasi ||
(AV. –V.23.3);Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -3, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 137.

[22]:

sarūpau dvau virūpau dvau k� ṣṇau dvau rohitau dvau |
babhuśca babhrukarṇaśca gṛdhra� kokaśca te hatā� ||
(AV. –V.23.4);Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 399.

[23]:

AV. –V.23.5-13; K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, pp. 434-436.

[24]:

indrasya yā 󲹳ī khalvaṅgānalāṇḍū n hananān ghṛtamiśrāñjuhoti | bālānkalṣe kāṇḍe savya� pariveṣṭya saṃbhinatti | pratayati | ādadhāti | savyena dakṣiṇāmukha� pāṃsūnupamathya pari kirati | saṃmṛdvāti | ādadhāti | ote ma iti karīramūla� kāṇḍenaikadeśam | grātpāṃsūn | paścādagnerturupasthe musalavudhnena navanītānvaktena tri� ī� tāluni tāpayati | śigrubhirnavanītamiśrai� pradegdhi | ekaviṃśatimuśirāṇi bhinajhīti mantroktam | uśīrāṇi prayacchati | ekaviṃśatya sahāplāvayati || (Kau. ūٰ, -27.14-20; 29.20-26); Atharvavedīya�ś첹 Gṛhyasūtra� (Dārilakeśavayosaṃkṣiptaṭīkaya sahita�), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 64-71.

[25]:

Dr. V. W. Karambelkar, The Atharva-Veda and The Āܰ-ձ岹, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office, 2003, pp. 153-154.

[26]:

tvayā pūrvamatharvāṇo jaghnū rakṣāṃsyoṣadhe |
tvayā jaghāna kaśyapastvayā kaṇvo agastya� ||
(AV. –IV.37.1); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 348.

[27]:

tvayā vayamapsaraso gandharvāṃścātayāmahe |
ajaśṛṅ gyaja ṣa� sarvān gandhena nāśaya ||
(AV. –IV.37.2); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 587.

[28]:

Բī� yantvapsaraso'pā� tāramavaścasam |
gulgulū� pīlā naladyaukṣagandhi� pramandanī |
tat paretāpsarasa� pratibuddhā abhūtana ||
(AV. –IV.37.3); Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 362.

[29]:

ⲹٰśٳٳ Բⲹǻ mahāvṛkṣāḥ śikhaṇḍina� |
tat paretāpsarasa� pratibuddhā abhūtana ||
(AV. –IV.37.4); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 350.

[30]:

yatra va� pre� khā 󲹰 arjunā uta yatrāghāṭāḥ karka rya� saṃvadanti |
tat paretāpsarasa� pratibuddhā abhūtana ||
(AV. –IV.37.5); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 592.

[31]:

ⲹԲԴṣaī� īܻ� vīryāvatī |
ajaśṛṅ gyarāṭakītīkṣṇaśṛṅgīvyṛṣatu ||
(AV. –IV.37.6); Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 362.

[32]:

ānṛtyata� śikhaṇḍino gandharvasyāpsarāpate� |
bhinadmi muṣkāvapi yāmi śepa� ||
(AV. –IV.37.7); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 351.

[33]:

bhī indrasya hetaya� śatamṛṣṭīrayasmayī� |
tābhirhaviradān gandharvānavakādān vyṛṣatu ||
(AV. –IV.37.8); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 602.

[34]:

bhī indrasya hetaya� śatamṛṣṭīrhiraṇyayī� |
tābhirhaviradān gandharvānavakādān vyṛṣatu ||
(AV. –IV.37.9); Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 362.

[35]:

avakādānabhiśocānapsu jyotaya makān |
piśācān sarvānoṣadhe pra mṛṇīhi sahasva ca || (AV. –IV.37.10); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 352.

[36]:

śvevaika� kapirivaika� kura� sarvake ś첹� | priyo dṛśa iva bhūtvā Ի󲹰� sacate striyastamito nāśayāmasi brahmaṇ� vīryāvatā || (AV. –I.37.11); Atharva- Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 604.

[37]:

id vo apsaraso Ի󲹰� patayo yūyam |
apa dhāvatāmartyā martyān sacadhvam ||
(AV. –IV.37.12); Acarya Vedanta Tirtha (ed.), Atharvaveda–Vol. 1, Delhi, Manoj Publication, 2012, p. 362.

[38]:

tva� bhiṣag bheṣajasyāsi tvayā gāmaśca� ܰṣa� sanena | (AV. –V.29.1); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 456.

[39]:

ut purastāt ūⲹ eti viśvadṛṣṭo adṛṣṭahā |
dṛṣṭāṃśca ghnannadṛṣṭāṃśca savādṛśca pramṛṇan krimīn ||
(AV. –V.23.6); Veda Atharvaveda ṃh, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, p. 399.

[40]:

udyannāditya� krimīn hantu nimrocan hantu ś� | (AV. –II.32.1); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol. -3, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 635.

[41]:

etāste agne samidha� piśācajambhanī� | (AV. –V.29.14); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 459.

[42]:

krimīn vacasā jambhayāmasi || ______(AV. –II.31.2); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol.�1, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 630.

[43]:

DzԻ ṣaḍgԳٳ DZdzī śataparvvikā |
kṣudrapatrī ca
........... –Harītakyādivarga -1/98-100) 屹prakāśa by 屹miśra Vol. I, trans. Kalishachandra Sengupta, Vaidyacarya Kalikinkara Senasharma & Ayurvedacharya Satya Shekhara Bhattyacharya (eds.), Kolkata, Deepayan, 2000, p. 179.

[44]:

garbhāda� kaṇva� nāśaya pṛśniparṇi sahasva ca | (AV. –II.25.3); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 111.

[45]:

gulgulū� pīlā naladyaukṣagandhi� pramandanī | (AV. –IV.37.3); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol.�2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 558.

[46]:

ajaśṛṅ gyaja ṣa� sarvān gandhena nāśaya || (AV. –IV.37.2); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. I, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 349.

[47]:

badarairupavākābhirbheṣajam | Maitrā. S.�3.11.2.

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