Kashyapa Samhita (काश्यप संहिता)

Kashyapa Samhita is the treatise of Ayurveda. Its emphasis is on the Kaumarabhrtya (Ayurvedic Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics). It was authored by Vrddha Jivaka who learned this subject from Acharya Kashyapa and tried to preserve and transfer this knowledge in the written form by converting it as a treatise. Although neither a part of Brhatrayee nor Laghutrayee, Kashyapa Samhita is revered as important treatise in Ayurveda literature because of its special area of focus on Gynecology and Pediatrics.

Introduction

The knowledge of Ayurveda that we study these days is dependent majorly on the Samhitas, like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya and etc. and they were written for the purpose of knowledge transfer from one generation to another, for the easy practice of Indian Traditional medicine and also for the preservation of this gem of medicinal knowledge. Another magnificent drop in the ocean of Ayurveda Samhita is Kashyapa Samhita. Kashyapa Samhita is the only treatise that highlights Kaumara Bhritya or the Pediatric branch of Ayurveda. Acharya Kashyapa dictated this knowledge and Vriddha Jivaka, his disciple wrote it which was also known as Vriddha Jivaka Tantra and got popular as Kashyapa Samhita. Samhita was redacted by “Vatsya” who was a descendant of “Bhrigu” and “Vriddha Jivaka”. Kashyapa Samhita is in the “shruti” (knowledge transferred orally from one generation to another) form of treatise and a result of Guru-Shishya Prampara (a form of knowledge transfer from guru or teacher to his students or disciples)

In Rigveda and Atharvaveda, there are few references pertaining to the Kaumara Bhritya branch of Ayurveda. There are mentions of worm infestation in children, nourishment of zygotes, brain tonics and etc. Even in certain Puranas like Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana, Kautilya arthashashtra, Valmiki-Ramayana and etc., there are references regarding kaumara Bhritya.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272770055_KASYAPA_SAMHITA_ONLY_REVERED_TEXT_ON_KAUMARBHRITYA

Language

The Samhita is written in the Sanskrit language.

Hemaraj Sharma wrote “Upodghat” on Kashyap Samhita, which is in “Newari Script”, in Durbar Library in Kathmandu.

About the author

Acharya Kashyapa also known as Marichi Kashyapa belonged to the 6^th Century BCE. He was one among the Sapta Rishis (the seven great Rishis, who are considered experts in Vedas) who gained knowledge of Ayurveda for the betterment of people on earth from Dev Indra (King of the Gods).

According to certain scripts, Rishi Kashyapa was the son of Marichi and kala. According to some descriptions, Sapta Rishis were from the mind of Brahma (Lord Brahma).

Vriddha Jivaka who compiled the teachings of Kashyapa was the son of “Richika” and resided in Haridwar, near the banks of river Ganga.

Vatsya who redacted the Samhita was the descendent of Vriddha Jivaka as well as Bhrigu and hence was also called Bhargava. He belonged to Vatsa desha.

Subject and Structure of the Samhita

Kashyapa Samhita mainly focuses on the pediatric aspect followed by the gynecology and obstetrics aspects.

The Samhita is written on Tada Patra which is Palm leaves having a total of 264 pages that dates approximately 700-800 years back.  This was later found in Nepal by Pt. Rajguru Hemraj Sharma who compiled this manuscript since some part of this treatise was lost over a period of time. In 1938 this got published by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi.

Kashyapa Samhita is divided into 8 sections called “Sthana” consisting of 120 chapters (excluding Khilasthana). Currently, only 78 chapters are available.

Sthana (Section)	Adhyaya (Chapters)
Sutrasthana	30
Nidanasthana	08
Vimanasthana	08
Shareerasthana	08
Indriyasthana	12
Chikitsasthana	30
Siddhisthana	12
Kalpasthana	12
Khilasthana	80

According to certain scholars, “Vatsya” added Khilasthana when this treatise was available in its original form as it quotes “twenty-four types of measurements of diet are described in Rasa Vimana chapter”.

https://storage.googleapis.com/journal-uploads/ejbps/article_issue/volume_6_may_issue_5/1557971127.pdf

In Kashyapa Samhita out of 78 chapters available, 28 chapters are dedicated entirely to Kaumara Bhritya, 6 chapters of Sutrasthana, 5 chapters of Chikitsasthana, 2 chapters of kalpasthana and four of Khilasthana are totally dedicated to the various pediatric aspects. Nine plus two chapters are devoted to gynecology and obstetrics, breast milk, and wet nurse/caretaker. In the remaining 49 chapters also, a major emphasis is given to preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care of children.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272770055_KASYAPA_SAMHITA_ONLY_REVERED_TEXT_ON_KAUMARBHRITYA

Key features of the Samhita

• Division of Childhood into three stages, garbha (intra-uterine), Bala (child), and kumara (adolescent) were described in Kashyapa Samhita which is apt even today.
• There is the classification of children according to the economical condition of their parents, the necessity is explained as well, stating the Satmya (tolerance capacity), affordability of good food and medicine, diet, and fees differ accordingly.
• There is a chapter named “Shishyoupanayaniya” that includes the induction ceremony a disciple/ student goes through before starting a formal education. He further explains the qualities of a good Guru or Teacher and Shishya or student.
• Malnutrition in children is described in detail stating the etiology of different kinds as well.
• There is an entire chapter dedicated to “lehana” which are medicinal preparations in the form of linctus and Swarnaprashana(linctus made from gold and certain herbs) which is a unique Ayurvedic concept for immunity in Children.
• An Adhyaya (chapter) named “Dantajanmika” describes the timing of teething, teeth/tooth quality, names of teeth, and properties of ideal teeth and gums.
• There is a description of Kumaraagar or Nursery which explains the environment of the nursery, and the types of toys to be included, and excluded shedding a light on the psychology of the child.
• Various skin conditions are also described in detail.
• Acharya Kashyapa has described feeding fruit juices in the 6^th month and semisolid food after the eruption of teeth which is around the 10^th month.
• The practice of Dhupana karma or fumigation is described in Samhita which sheds light on air purification through certain dravyas. This practice is majorly seen in Ayurvedic pediatrics, more specifically in Graha Chikitsa and sterilization of the labor room.
• Samskaras
• Milestones
• karnavedhana