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Introduction CHAPTER - V SANSKRIT AND AYURVEDA : ROLE OF INFORMAL EDUCATION India has a rich medical legacy in Ayurveda. Since Ayurveda is a science of life and healthy way of living, mankind has something valuable to learn from it. The advice it gives is to live in harmony with nature. Health and longevity is related to the style of life one follows. Man has always worried about ill health from the time immemorial. He tried and succeeded to find out remedies for most of the ailments. Ayurveda is our a traditional stream of knowledge coming down from generation to generation especially through Sanskrit medium. Ayurvedic Education According to some scholars the system of Ayurveda had its beginning during the Rgveda time. The Atharvaveda has Ayurveda as its supplement. In the past great teachers were committed to preserve this knowledge and transmit it to deserving disciples. Caraka, in his treatise mentions the pledge of the Ayurvedic students.

313 Unto one that is adorned with such qualifications when he has presented himself for acceptance as a pupil, and when he is prepared to serve his preceptor steadily and for a long time, the preceptor should say as follows. When the sun is in his northern course, during the lighted fortnight, on an auspicious day, when the holes Chandramas is in conjunction with any of these asterims, viz, Tisya, Hasta, Sravana, and the twin Aswins; when the holy Chandramas is in an auspicious karana and when the muhurta is friendly (favourable) having fasted, having shared off the hair of his head, attired in robes steeped, in red-chalk, equipt with (sacred) fuel, fire ghee, unguents (such as sandal paste) water pots, and perfumes of various kinds are also garlands of flowers, a lamp, gold, ornaments of gold, silver, gems, pearls, corals and silken clothes also with blades of sacred grass, fried paddy, mustard seeds, rice-grains prepared with the aid of solar heat (instead of boiling) also quantity of white flowers, both loose and strung together in wreaths, also some clean articles of diet, and perfumes pasted and otherwise, do thou come! The disciple should do as he is commanded.1 The commitment of ancient teachers and students to their profession is reflected in Carakasamhita. The samhitas of Caraka,

314 Susrutha, Kasyapa, Bela, and Harita mentions the term Ayurveda for Indian medicines. In the ancient period Kasi was the famous centre of Ayurveda. Later Thakshasila became very popular in the filed of Ayurvedic education. The story related to Buddhist period tell about prince Brahmadata of Kasi coming to Thakshasila for the study of Ayurveda. 2 The great Ayurveda physician Caraka and his disciples were used to visit many places and teach the students. The questions raised by the disciples were answered by them. They used the method of debates and discussions practiced for higher education in which scholars from various desciplines participated. In Thakshasila Jivaka was one of the best students in this period. Students learned Ayurveda in its all aspects. Along with Ayurveda, subjects like Dharmasastras and other sastra subjects relevant for leading a good life were also taught. In addition to the gurukula system, during the Buddhist period, the University system was also there. In the Universities of Nalanda and Thakshasila each subject was handled by a specialist teacher, Student and teachers lived together. At the time of the flourish of Buddhism the system of Indian medicine was popular not only in India also in China, Tibet, Central Asia and Japan.` 3

Carakasamhita 315 Ayurveda was divided into 8 specialities. Kayacikitsa (internal) (medicine), Salya (surgery), Salakya (diseases of head), Kumarabhrtya (paediatrics), Agadatantra (toxicology), Bhutavidya (pertaining to spirits), Rasayana (promotive therapy) and Vajikarana (pertaining to aphrodisiacs). Many treatises are composed on each branch developing to the rank of specialities, simultaneously permitting them to have interdisciplinary approach. Among them two specialities developed rapidly, the school of medicine and school of surgery. The school of medicine was known as Kayacikitsa or Atreya Punarvasusampradaya. The school of surgery was famous as salya or Dhanvantari sampradaya.* Atreya Punarvasu had six important disciples. All of them composed their own books on the knowledge gained by them. Among them Agnivesatantra stood first and Atreya was asked to modify the text including other tantras. Later it was refined and enlarged by Caraka and hence the name Carakasamhita. Further it was reducted by Drdhabala.5 The period of Caraka may be fixed about 200 B.C. Drdhabala (415 century A.D) completed Carakasamhita by adding 17 chapters in Cikitsasthana and the entire Kalpasthana and Siddhisthana. The subject 6

316 matter of the text is arranged in eight sections and 120 chapters. It deals with the basic principles of Ayurveda. It finds the man as a wholesome individual, discusses various topics from genetics to daily practices and prefers a holistic approach. It enables one to find out remedy for each and every problems of ailment arising at any time anywhere. It gives more than 2000 medicinal preparations. Various experts present their own views and try to establish their points during serious discussion. Finally the master concludes the discussion by finalizing the point. Susrutasamhita The excellence of surgical practices in Ayurveda is attributed much to Susruta. Susruta was the son of Visvamitra. Most of the historians agree that Susruta's period comes in between 600 B.C. and 300 B.C. Susrutasamhita covers all the aspects of medical practice under eight sub-specialities. The surgical concepts and procedures are discussed throughout. Susrutasamhita is the first text to define health in terms of physical and mental serenity and well being which was incorporated by W.H.O. recently. Susruta was not only a practical surgeon but he was a good teacher also. Susruta's collection consists of two broad sections. The first section of the text is related to surgery and is further divided into five chapters or stanzas. The second section of the book is called Uttaratantra which contains 66 chapters. It is ascribed by some scholars

317 to a later author of the same name. Thus part of the book deals with a variety of subjects including details of eye diseases anatomical parts of the eye and their care. The treatment of eye injuries, diseases of ear, nose and throat, general medicine and psychiatry in Ayurveda etc are also dealt with Susruta was the first surgeon to classify surgical instruments adopting nomenclature. Both blunt and sharp instruments were grouped in distinct categories, grouping which is complete in every respect even now. Susruta promotes inter disciplinary approach in studies. It is likely during the course of training that many allied branches of this science might have received references. Susruta advises to hold discussions with other doctors and have acquaintance with other works on similar subjects. Plastic surgery is the unique contribution of Susruta for which the world is 8 indebited to him.掳 Susruta has elaborated and advanced the basic concepts of the properties and action of drugs. Susruta introduces many specific drugs for treatment. He classified drugs in 37 groups according to therapeutic uses. In the 15th century, during the settlement of Portuguese in certain regions of India, the western medical system was introduced. During the British Colonial period western medicine began to dominate. Rajaram Mohan Roy, Swamy Vivekananda, Dayananda Saraswathy etc., are the famous leaders of Indian renaissance in the 19th century. They upheld

318 Indian traditions and but approved reformations in it. As a result of their activities, during the colonial era, India witnessed a cultural and social renaissance. Some of the western scholars who came to India were generally interested in Indian wisdom and cultural heritage embodied in Sanskrit institutions like the Royal Asiatic society encouraged the publication of studies and reports about the Vedas, Indian art, Laws, Literature and works in the scientific field. During this period. Dr.Horarner and others did some study and research in the field of Ayurveda with the help of society. 9 In Goa the Portuguese started one hospital in 1498 and one medical institution in 1607. The French and other Europeans were also interested in the propagation of western medicine. Under their compulsion the Indian rulers began to accept western medical treatment from 17th century onwards. 10 The modern medicine and technology gradually displaced traditional system of Ayurvedic education. The indigenous modes of medicine were neglected. The Ayurveda education also underwent many changes during this time. According to Vidyalankar, before the English education, Indians followed the traditional system of education in the field of Ayurveda. In Banaras and Navadweep flourished the study of Philosophy, Vyakarana, Sahitya, and Ayurveda. They never taught

319 11 Ayurveda without imparting philosophical knowledge." But in the influence of modern education these philosophical tradition and the multidisciplinary engagement with the Sanskrit Kavyas, Vyakarana, Tarka and Jyotisa etc were eradicated from the medical education. In some places like Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra, and Maharashtra a number of Ayurvedic gurukulas were introduced. They had followed traditional method and gave importance to Sanskrit and Darsanas. However some institutions followed the modern education. For some time the traditional and modern education existed side by side. Fortunately the traditional Ayurvedic education was preserved in some of the gurukulas, asramas and agraharas. Sanskrit was an unavoidable subject for them. After the implementation of modern education in India. some of these traditional institutions were replaced by modern institutions. For instance Pandit Jaranathan started one gurukula in Tungabhadra and later it was transformed as Bellery Ayurveda College (Andrapredesh). This type of conversions of institutions happened in many parts of India. 12