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Ayurveda in Ramayana and Mahabharata (रामायणे तथा महाभारते आयुर्वेदः) (view source)
Revision as of 20:47, 21 January 2023
, 20:47, 21 January 2023→Ayurveda in Mahabharata
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Ramayana and Mahabharata are ancient epics in the form of poetry originally written by Valmiki and Vyasa respectively. These are collectively called as itihasa (Samskrit: इतिहास), that form the Smriti (Samskrit: स्मृति) part of the ''[[Prasthantrayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी)|Prasthantrayi]]''. Ramayana narrates the history of Lord Rama's activities in the world. While Mahabharata, is chiefly the story of two branches of a family - the Pandavas and Kauravas - who, in the War, battle for the throne. Interwoven into this narrative are several smaller stories about people dead or living, and philosophical discourses. Bhagvad Gita, the holy religious text, which is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, is narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. Although the subject matters of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are diffrerent from that of Ayurveda, one can find multiple references in these 2 texts that mention concepts, application, practice and medicine in Ayurveda at relevant places. Looking at the references one can understand that Ayurveda was known and practiced in quite an evolved stage during the times of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Ramayana and Mahabharata are ancient epics in the form of poetry originally written by Valmiki and Vyasa respectively. These are collectively called as itihasa (Samskrit: इतिहास), that form the Smriti (Samskrit: स्मृति) part of the ''[[Prasthantrayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी)|Prasthantrayi]]''. Ramayana narrates the history of Lord Rama's activities in the world. While Mahabharata, is chiefly the story of two branches of a family - the Pandavas and Kauravas - who, in the War, battle for the throne. Interwoven into this narrative are several smaller stories about people dead or living, and philosophical discourses. Bhagvad Gita, the holy religious text, which is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, is narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. Although the subject matters of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are different from that of Ayurveda, one can find multiple references in these 2 texts that mention concepts, application, practice and medicine in Ayurveda at relevant places. Looking at the references one can understand that Ayurveda was known and practiced in quite an evolved stage during the times of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
== Ayurveda in Ramayana ==
== Ayurveda in Ramayana ==
=== Marmas ===
=== Marmas ===
Death of Ravana is said to have happened due to Nabhi marma ghata. Marmas are known as the vital points in Ayurveda. These are the points wher the life energy is concentrated and therefore injury to these can lead to various effects ranging from pain to permanent disability or death. [[Shira (शिरस् or शिरः)|Shiras]], [[Hrudaya (हृदयम्)|Hrdayam]] and Basti are known as 3 most important marmas which when hit by arrow/bullet/sharp instrument lead to immediate death. Nabhi is also one such Sadyapranahara marma. The knowledge on hitting on these specific points known as marma was prevalent in that time as is described in Ayurveda treatises.
== Ayurveda in Mahabharata ==
== Ayurveda in Mahabharat ==
Mahabharata, is chiefly the story of two branches of a family - the Pandavas and Kauravas - who, in the War, battle for the throne. Interwoven into this narrative are several smaller stories about people dead or living, and philosophical discourses.
=== Ashtanga Ayurveda ===
=== Ashtanga Ayurveda ===
This entire knowledge of life in Ayurveda is divided under 8 main branches. These are called उपाङ्गानि। Upanga of Ayurveda and as they are 8 in number, Ayurveda is also called Ashtanga Ayurveda. Kayachikitsa, Kaumarabhrutya/ Bala, Graha, Urdhwanga (Shalakya), Shalya, Danshtra / Agadatantra, JAra (Rasayana), Vrusha (Vajikarana) are those 8 branches or ashtangas of Ayurveda. In th esabha parva of Mahabharata, Narada muni teach Yudhisthira through the questions asked in the sabha. There he asks Yudhishthira, whether his Vaidya is skilled in Ashtangas (all 8 branches) of Chikitsa? This indicates that, Ayurveda in its complete form and well developed knowledge of all 8 branches was existent in Mahabharata's time.
=== Types of rogas ===
=== Types of rogas ===
=== Types of doshas ===
=== Types of doshas ===
There are references in Mahabharata where causes of illness in physical body and factors controlling manas (mind) are described.
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are considered as the gunas of manas (mind).<ref name=":0" />
* Shita (Cold), Ushna (Hot) and Vayu (Air) are considered as the causes of diseases in Sharira (Physical body). <ref name=":0">Mahabharata Shanti parva (Adhyaya 16 Sutra 11-13)</ref>
* Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are considered as the gunas of manas (mind).<ref name=":0" />
=== Methods of treating diseases of physical body and mind ===
=== Methods of treating diseases of physical body and mind ===
=== Agadatantra ===
=== Agadatantra ===
Agadatantra or Vishachikitsa is one of the 8 branches of Ayurveda. It deals with the treatment of poisoning through many sources like animals, plants, humans (artificial poisoning) etc.
==== Sthavara visha nutralisation by Jangama visha ====
==== Sthavara visha nutralisation by Jangama visha ====
A story in Adiparva of Mahabharata narrates as, sinful Duryodhana mixed poison in Bheem's food items, so that Bhima died. Duryodhana himself tied Bhima with ropes and pushed him off the ground into the water. There, due to the bite of snakes, the kalkut poison in Bheem's blood was destroyed and he became alive. The reason for elimination of the poison in blood can be found rooted in the concept of opposing actions of 2 types of Visha described in Ayurveda. According to the Ayurveda, Jangama visha (animal poison) destroys the Sthavara visha (plant poison) and vice versa. Therefore, plant based poison that had entered Bheem's blood was neutralized after the poisonous snakes bit him in water. <ref>Mahabharata Adiparva (127. 53-59)</ref>
==== Effect of Mantra chanting on poisoning ====
==== Effect of Mantra chanting on poisoning ====
One more example of poisoning and its management can be found in Mahabharata in a story of Kashyapa, Takshaka and Pareekshita. When Takshaka bites the tree and poisons it, the tree dies. Kashyapa then collects all the ashes of that tree and then brings it back to life through Mantra chanting.<ref>Mahabharata Adiparva (50.34)</ref> In another example, Pareekshita is said to had arranged for Mantrasiddha brahmanas as one of the measure of managing poisoning. <ref>Mahabharata Adiparva (42.30)</ref>
In Sushruta samhita, there is a sutra that clearly highlights the effective use and incomparable action of Mantra chanted by capable brahmarshis and devas in poisoning. <blockquote>देवब्रह्मर्षिभिः प्रोक्ता मन्त्राः सत्यतपोमयाः | भवन्ति नान्यथा क्षिप्रं विषं हन्युः सुदुस्तरम् ||९||
विषं तेजोमयैर्मन्त्रैः सत्यब्रह्मतपोमयैः | यथा निवार्यते क्षिप्रं प्रयुक्तैर्न तथौषधैः ||१०|| (Sush. Samh. 5.9-10)<ref>Sushruta Samhita (Kalpasthanam Adhyaya 5 Sutra 9-10)</ref></blockquote>
=== Sanjeevani Vidya ===
=== Sanjeevani Vidya ===
=== Doctor in the war ===
=== Doctor in the war ===
Yudhishthira had kept hundreds of Shastravisharad vaidyas (Doctors skilled in surgery) in his army by paying them salaries; they were all equipped with necessary tools for surgeries and wound care. <ref>Mahabharata Udyogaparva (52.12)</ref>Ashtanga Samgraha and Sushruta Samhita advise king to have Vaidya (Doctor) living near him. It is advised that, the physician should always take care of the king's food and other things and the king must obey his advise. <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanama Adhyaya 34 Sutra 12-13)</ref>
=== Kushtha roga ===
=== Kushtha roga ===
Kushtha is the name of the group of diseases affecting skin primarily and then in the further progression can damage other organs as well depending upon the type of Kushtha. This diseease described in Ayurveda is also found to be mentioned in Mahabharata. In a story in Mahabharata, Shantanu's elder brother 'Devaati' was said to had been suffering from Kushtha of terminal stage where his Indriyas (sensory and motor organs) were affected by it. Therefore the throne was not given to him considering his disability to take responsibility.<ref>Ayurveda ka Brihat Itihasa by Atrideva Vidyalankara, Hindi samiti granthamala, UP. . [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.478863/page/n79/mode/2up?view=theater Pg 86].</ref> It indicates the nature of progression of illness called Kushtha was known that time and is similar to that described in Ayurveda literature.
=== Rajayakshma roga ===
=== Rajayakshma roga ===
YAkshma or Rajayakshma is a disease described in Ayurveda where the person emaciates extremely and can die due to that disease progression. It is compared with diseases like Tuberculosis and AIDS in contemporary medical science. One of the cause of this disease is said to be excess indulgence in carnal pleasure and resultant depletion of all [[Dhatus (धातवः)|dhatus]] starting from [[Shukra Dhatu (शुक्र धातुः)|Shukra dhatu]]. In Mahabharata there is a mention that, Vichitraveerya, the son of Satyavati had developed this disease due to the same reason as mentioned earlier and since no medicine worked he sinked to death due to this yakshma.<ref>Mahabharata (1/102/80-71) , [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.478863/page/n77/mode/2up?view=theater Ayurveda ka Brihat Itihasa] by Atrideva Vidyalankara, Hindi samiti granthamala, UP. . Pg 84. </ref> This shows abundance of knowledge about diseases, their progression or course and their management along with the treatment outcomes in the Mahabharata times which is found to be in line with that in Ayurveda treatises.
== References ==
== References ==