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
42 (of 54)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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philosophy, religion, literature and system of education and circulated
them in their own lands. Buddhist institutions were open to all without
difference and provided with equal opportunities for the development of
the capacity and aptitudes of the students. In addition to the religious and
philosophical aspects, education in secular subjects was also formed in
this system. Education was closely wedded to the various problems of life
and aimed at finding solution to these problems. A noteworthy point is that
Buddhism did not believe in the mortification of flesh or undergoing severe
penances. The Chinese travelers have given a clear and vivid description
of Buddhist monasteries, based on personal experience and observations.
The Buddhist countries monasteries did function as the effective
instrument of elementary education meeting the immediate needs of the
local children. The Brahmanical temples had also their own Vedic schools
but they had little concern for the education of the general public. There
was also no stratification of learning in the priestly schools. The use of
prak峁沬t and pali, the language of the people, was another positive aspect
of Buddhist education. Buddhists admitted the importance of regional
language in education.
Because of these traditional background of Buddhist education, we
are still able to enrich our harmonious cultural and political relation with the
