Author: P V Sharma
Publisher: Chaukhambha Orientalia
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 2253
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8176370118
Description
Ayurveda ( the sceince of life) is one of the branches of the Vedas. It is regarded as upaveda of Rgveda or Atharvaveda but, really speaking, it is a stream of the knowledge coming down from generation to generation since enternity parallel to the vedic literature. It is taken as eternal because nobody knows when it was not here. All this shows its long tradition and deep attachment to the Indian culture.
As the knowledge advanced, Ayurveda was divided into eight specialities:
Kayacikitsa (Internal medicine)
Salya (surgery)
Salakya (pertaining to diseases of supra-clavicular region)
Kaumarabhrtya (pediatrics inclduing obstertics and gynaecology)
Agadantra (toxicology)
Bhutavidya (pertaining to micro-organisms or spirits)
Rasayana (promotive therapy)
AND
Vajikarana (pertaining to aphrodisiacs)
According to the narrative given in the Caraka Samhita, the traditiion of Ayurveda started right from Brahma and passed through Daksa Prajapati and Indra to Bharadwaja who handed it down to Atreya. Atreya discussed the topics of medicine with the scholar-sages in different symposia organised in different parts of the country and formulated the basic concepts accordingly. He had six illustrious disciples - Agnivesa, Bhela, Jatukarna, Parasara, Harita and Ksarapoani. Of them Agnivesa was the most brilliant one who documented the precepts of his teacher faithfully in his compendium known as Agnivesa-tantra.
The other disciples followed him and composed their own compendiums but the Agnivesatantra was always the most popular text representing the School of Atreya (or medicne). Afterwards it was refined and enlarged by Caraka when it began to be known as the Caraka Samhita.
The present text of the Caraka Samhita read all over the world today is the Agnivesa-tantra as refined by Caraka and later redacted by Drdhabala, a Kashmiri scholar. The value of this work is further enhanced by the fact that it is the only text available in complete form where as other contemporary Samhitas such as of Jatukarna, Parasara etc. perished, that of Behela is incomplete and that of Harita is dragged into controversy.
Thus any scholar desirous to know about the fundamentals of Ayurveda and its approach to life, health and disease has essentially to take resort to the study of this text unique in depth and divergence. Historically too, it is quite interesting. Like an archaeological edifice, if it is dug into one would come across three distinct strate of authorship ascribed to Agnivesa, Caraka and Drdhabala in successive order.
The material of the text has been arranged in the following sections and chapters in this 4-volume compendium
VOLUME I
01 Sutrasthana 30 Chapters
02 Nidanasthana 8 Chapters
03 Vimanasthana 8 Chapters
04 Sarirasthana 8 Chapters
05 Indriyasthana 12 Chapters
VOLUME II
06 Cikitsitasthana 30 Chapters
07 Kalpasthana 12 Chapters
08 Siddhisthana 12 Chapters
VOLUME III & IV
Critical notes incorporating the view of following four commentators on the above 8 Sections and 120 chapters.
01 Jejjata
02 Cakrapanidatta
03 Gangahara
04 Yogindranatha
Volume IV also carries a section on medicinal plants of the Caraka-Samhita. It contains discussion on plants based on the four comms taken for study in the critical notes.
Contents
VOLUME I
SECTION ONE
1. QUADRUPLET ON DRUGS
CHAPTER I
On Longevity
CHAPTER II
On seeds of Apamarga etc.
CHAPTER III
On Aragvadha etc.
CHAPTER IV
On Location of Six Hundred Evacuatives
2. QUADRUPLET ON THE HEALTHY
CHAPTER V
On Quantity of diet etc.
CHAPTER VI
On One’s diet etc.
CHAPTER VII
On Non-suppression of Urges etc.
CHAPTER VIII
On Introductory description of Sense Organs
QUADRUPLET ON BASIC PRECEPTS
CHAPTER IX
On Small Quadruple
CHAPTER X
On Great Quadruple
CHAPTER XI
On Three Desires etc.
CHAPTER XII
On Merits and Demerits of Vata etc.
QUADRUPLET ON PREPARATION
CHAPTER XIII
On Unction
CHAPTER XIV
On Fomentation
CHAPTER XV
On Arrangement of Equipments etc.
CHAPTER XVI
On the Physician equipped for treatment etc.
5. QUADRUPLET ON DISEASE
CHAPTER XVII
On the number of head disease etc.
CHAPTER XVIII
On three swellings etc.
CHAPTER XIX
On eight abdominal diseases etc.
CHAPTER XX
On major diseases
6. QUADRUPLET ON PLANNING (OF NUTRITION)
CHAPTER XXI
On the eight despicable etc.
CHAPTER XXII
On reducing and promoting measures
CHAPTER XXIII
On Over-Saturation etc.
CHAPTER XXIV
On properly formed blood etc.
CHAPTER XXV
On the orign of person etc.
CHAPTER XXVI
On the discussion among Atreya, Bhadrakapya etc.
CHAPTER XXVII
On the types of food and drinks
CHAPTER XXVIII
On various food and drinks etc.
CHAPTER XXIX
On ten seats of vital breath
CHAPTER XXX
On great vessels of heart etc.
SECTION TWO: Nindanasthanam
CHAPTER I
On Diagnosis of Jwara (fever)
CHAPTER II
On Diagnosis of Raktapitta (internal haemorrhage)
CHAPTER III
On diagnosis of gluma
CHAPTER IV
On diagnosis of Prameha (Disorders of Urine)
CHAPTER V
On diagnosis of Kustha (Leprosy)
CHAPTER VI
On diagnosis of sosa (phthisis)
CHAPTER VII
On diagnosis of unmada (insanity)
CHAPTER VII
On dianosis of apasmara (epilepsy)
SECTION THREE: Vimanasthanam
CHAPTER I
On specific features of Rasa
CHAPTER II
On Specific features of threefold belly
CHAPTER III
On specific features of epidemics
CHAPTER IV
On specific features of the threefold sources of knowledge about disease characters
CHAPTER V
On specific features of srotas (channels)
CHAPTER VI
On specific features of the groups of diseases
CHAPTER VII
On specific features ofthe diseased etc.
CHAPTER VIII
On specific features of therapeutics of diseases
SECTION FOUR: Sarirasthanam
CHAPTER I
On the types of personal self etc.
CHAPTER II
Begining with Different clan
CHAPTER III
On Descent of embryo
CHAPTER IV
On development of foetus
CHAPTER V
On detailed knowledge about the person
CHAPTER VI
On detailed knowledge of human body
CHAPTER VII
On Enumeration of body parts
CHAPTER VIII
On principles of procreation
SECTION FIVE: Indriyasthanam
CHAPTER I
On complexion and voice
CHAPTER II
On flowered person
CHAPTER III
On palpable entities
CHAPTER IV
On sense organs
CHAPTER V
On prodromal signs
CHAPTER VI
On Physical abnormalities
CHAPTER VII
On shadow and lustre
CHAPTER VIII
Certain fatal conditions relating to eyes, nose, teeth etc.
CHAPTER IV
On blakish sign etc.
CHAPTER X
On signs of sudden death
CHAPTER XI
On poor digestion etc.
CHAPTER XII
On Cowdung-like powder etc.
VOLUME II
SECTION SIX - Cikitsathanam
CHAPTER I
On Rasayana (promotive treatment)
CHAPTER II
On Vajikarana (aphrodisiac welfare)
CHAPTER III
On treatment of Jwara
CHAPTER IV
On treatment of raktapitta (internal haemorrhage)
CHAPTER V
On treatment of gulma (abdominal lump)
CHAPTER VI
On treatment of Prameha
CHAPTER VII
On treatment of Kustha (Leprosy and other skin disorders)
CHAPTER VIII
On treatment of Rajayaksma
CHAPTER IX
On treatment of unmada (insanity)
CHAPTER X
on treatment of apasmara (epilepsy)
CHAPTER XI
On treatment of ksata-ksina (wounded in chest and wasted)
CHAPTER XII
on treatment of Svayathu (swelling)
CHAPTER XIII
on treatment of Udara (Abdorminal diseases)
CHAPTER XIV
On treatment of arsa piles)
CHAPTER XV
On treatment of Grahani disorder
CHAPTER XVI
on treatment of panduroga (anemia)
CHAPTER XVII
on treatment of Hikka (Hiccup) and Svasa (Dyspnoea)
CHAPTER XVIII
on treatment of Kasa (cough)
CHAPTER IXX
on treatment of Atisara (Diarrhoea)
CHATER XX
On treatment of Chardi (Vomiting)
CHAPTER XXI
On tretment of Visarpa (Erysipleas)
CHAPTER XXII
On tretment of Trsna (polydipsia)
CHAPTER XXIII
On treatment of Visa (Poisoning)
CHAPTER XXIV
On treatment of madatyaya (alcoholism)
CHAPTER XXV
On treatmednt of two types of vrana (wound)
CHAPTER XXVI
On treatment of the disorders of Tjhree vital organs
CHAPTER XXVII
on treatment of Urustambha
CHAPTER XXVIII
on treatment of vatavyadhi
CHAPTER XXIX
obn treatment of Vatarakta
CHAPTER XXX On treatment of yoni vyapat (disorders of female genital tract)
SECTION 7 - Kalpasthanam
CHAPTER I
On Pharmaceuticasl preparations of Madana
CHAPTER II
On pharmaceutical preparations of Jimuta
CHAPTER III
On pharmaceutical preparations of Iksvaku
CHAPTER IV
On pharmaceutical preparationsof Dhamargava
CHAPTER V
On pharmaceutical preparation of Vatsaka
CHAPTER VI
on pharmaceutical preparations of Krtavedhana
CHAPTER VII
on pharmaceutical poreparations of Syama and trivrt
CHAPTER VIII
on pharmaceutical preparations of caturangula
CHAPTER IX
on pharmaceutical preparations of Tilvaka
CHAPTER X
On pharmaceutical preparation of Sudha (snuhi)
CHAPTER XI
On pharmaceutical preparations of Saptala and Sankhini
CHAPTER XII On pharmaceutical preparations of Danti and Dravanti
SECTION 8 - Siddhisthanam
CHAPTER I
On successful preparation
CHAPTER II
On successful management of pancakarma
CHAPTER III
On principles of successful (application of) enemation
CHAPTER IV
On successful managment of unctuous enema
CHAPTER V
On successful management of the complication of nozzle and enema pouch
CHAPTER VI
on successful management of the complications of emasis and purgation
CHAPTER VII
on successful management of the complications of enema
CHAPTER VIII
On successful management with formulatiions in terms of prasrta
CHAPTER IX
On successful management of the (disorders related to) three vital parts
CHAPTER X
On successful application of basti (enemas)
CHAPTER XI
On successful dose of (the enema prepared with) fruits
CHAPTER XII
On successful management of post-enematic conditions
APPENDICES
Names of sages, gods and authors
Flora of the Caraka Samhita
Fauna of the Caraka Samhita
Animal products
In organic Substances
Groups of Drugs
Pharmaceutical processes and preparations
Apparatus, Utensils and Accessories
Weights and Measures
Dietary items and preparations
Geographical divisions and terms
Anatmical terms
Physiological terms
Terms Relating to Action
Pathological conditions and Syndromes
Terms relating to Therapeutics
Some important formulations
Index