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
25 (of 54)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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25 15
According to Manu' the normal age of Upanayana was 8 for a
Br膩hma峁嘺, 11 for a Ksatriya and 12 for a Vai艣ya. The maximum age limit
for this ceremony was also fixed. It was 16, 22, and 24 respectively for
these three castes.
The discipline of Brahmacarya was rigid and inflexible. There was a
restriction to food and drink. The Apastambadharmas奴tra mentioned
about the duties of the Brahmacharies.
16 The pupil served his teacher as a son. Caraka 17 state that the pupil
should serve his teacher as he serves Agni, Deva, King, Father and
Master, with steady devotion. Caraka instructs that the student after
approaching the teacher with worshipful miner should serve him without
fault considering as agni, god, king, father and a husband. Then by his
grace he should learned the science (of Ayurveda) completely and work
well again and again to attain stability in science elegance in description
understanding of meaning and ability for expression. Service must always.
rest on a moral foundation. If the teacher goes wrong, the pupil should
first complain to him private. 18
The course of study included the 'whole veda' together with the
19 .20.
Rahasya as stated by Manu. According to Manu "Twelve years lasts
the Brahmac膩rya for each Veda, or until he has learned it". But a number
of students would decide to continue their education for the rest of their
