Acharya Kashyapa (आचार्य काश्यपः)

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Kaumara Bhritya (कौमारभृत्यम्) is one of the eight popular branches of Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः) and it was pioneered by Acharya Kashyapa (आचार्य काश्यपः) and was written by Vriddha Jivaka (वृद्ध जीवकः) who was his disciple. Widely known as Kashyap Samhita (काश्यप संहिता), based on the teachings of Acharya Kashyapa was also known as “Virddha Jivaka Tantra” (वृद्धजीवक तंत्रम्). He wrote the only available treatise on Ayurvedic Pediatrics or Kaumara Bhritya through guru shishya parampara. Acharya Marichi Kashyapa dictated the gem of this knowledge and “Vriddha Jivaka” his disciple wrote.

परिचयः॥ Introduction

Vriddha jivaka who wrote the teachings of Acharya Marichi Kashyap was the son of Richika who lived near Haridwar on the banks of the river Ganga. Here “Vriddha” is a prefix that means elderly person even though “Jivaka” was young when he wrote the treatise, it is taken as elder by wisdom or a wise person. This prefix was used by him to differentiate between other scholars who go by the same name “jivaka”.

Kashyapa Samhita written by Vriddha Jivaka as teachings of Acharya Marichi Kashyap was later redacted by “Vatsya” who was a descendant of Bhrigu and Vriddha Jivaka. He belonged to vatsa desha, hence the name “Vatsya”. With the lapse of time, Kashyapa Samhita, was lost in oblivion and then resurrected by Vatsya, who procured it from Anayasa

काश्यपः॥ Kashyapa

• Kashyapa was the preacher of Kashyap samhita. His full name is believed to be Marichi Kashyap.
• Several other scholars have been mentioned in history with the same name as Kashyap.
• Mahabharat (ancient epic of India) has mentions of one such Kashyapa who was the expert of toxicology
• Vriddha Kashyap is another scholar with this name who has been mentioned in third chapter of sidhhi sthana of Kashyap samhita and cited by acharya Dalhan.
• Name of Rshi Kashyapa can be found in the list of Rshis who participated in the conference that happened at the base of Himalayas for finding solution to fix illnesses in humans and thus acquiring knowledge of Ayurveda from Indra.

Kashyapa : One of the saptarshis

Kashyapa is a vedic sage who is described as a member of the group of legendary Sapta rishis (seven rishis). Sapta rishis are referred to in the Vedas with utmost reverence. Kashyapa has sung the hymn in praise of Soma in Rig Veda. Sage Kashyapa received Ayurvedic knowledge from Indra, the King of Gods. He mainly focused on Kaumarbhritya (paediatrics including Obstetrics and Gynaecology). As per most scriptures, Rishi Kashyapa was the son of Marichi and Kala.

The story of Rishi Kashyapa and Kashmeer

Once Sage Kashyapa went on a pilgrimage to the northern borders of India, an area with enchanting mountains, beautiful valleys and lakes. Upon his arrival, the Nagas who resided there, approached him and requested him to rescue them from a demon called ‘Jalodhbhava’ (water borne) who was tormenting the beings who resided on the slopes of the mountains and hid beneath the waters of a lake. So, in order to seek divine intervention, the sage performed intense austerities and meditated upon Lord Viṣhṇu. Viṣhṇu pierced through the mountains, broke open the lake and the water in was drained out and subsequently the demon was killed by Vishnu. Relieved of the demon, a beautiful valley emerged which was named ‘Kashyap Mar’, the abode of Kashyapa. In due course of time, the valley came to be known as ‘Kashmir’. In Sanskrit, Kashmir means ‘desiccated from water’ (“ka”- water and “shimeera” - desiccate). Puranas consider Kashyapa as the father of Devas, Asuras, Nagas and all of the humanity. Interestingly, Lord Vishnu’s avatar of Vamana was born to Sage Kashyapa. The avatar is famous for defeating the popular Asura king, Mahabali, whose yearly visit is celebrated as Onam in Kerala.

Lineage from Sage Kashyapa

Name of Kashyapa’s wives	Off Springs
Aditi	Agni, Aditya, Vamana
Diti	Hiranya Kashipu, Hiranyaksha, Simhika and Maya
Vinatha	Garuda, Aruna
Kadru	Nagas, Vasuki
Danu	Danavas
Muni	Apsaras

वृद्धजीवकः ॥ Vriddha Jivaka

• Vrddha Jivaka was the one who compiled the teachings of acharya Kashyap in form of Vriddha Jivaka tantra or Kashyap samhita.
• It is said that the prefix "Vriddha‟ which means "old‟ or "elder‟ was attached to name of "Jivaka‟ as he attained a vast knowledge in a small age i.e. though he was young in age,
• Also, it is said that young Jivaka, old or experienced or old in wisdom, son of Richika took bath in the holy river Ganga near Haridwar, and emerged as an old man.
• The prefix 'Vrddha' also helps to differentiate him from another scholar of Ayurveda with the name "Jivaka‟, who was the specialist in shalya or surgery

कालः॥Period

There are few references on the basis of which the period of Acharya Kashyapa (who guided Vrddha jivaka to write Kashyapa Samhita) can be found out roughly.

Acharya Kashyapa or Marichi Kashyap’s Kashyap Samhita is written on “Tada Patra” (ताडपत्रम् । Pam leaves), there are 264 total pages of leaves of the size 21.5*2.25 having six lines each which dated approximately 700-800 years back.

Marichi Kashyap received the knowledge of Ayurveda medicine from Indra (the King of God) along with Vashisht, Atri, Bhrigu and etc. this explains that Acharya Kashyapa was the contemporary of Atri, Bhrigu, Vashisht and etc who belonged to the 6^th Century BCE or before that.

According to certain historians, there was a toxicology expert scholar by the name of Kashyap who is mentioned in Mahabharata.

There is mention of another scholar named “Vriddha Kashyap” whose name appears in the Kashyap Samhita which is cited by “Dalhan”

Thus period of Acharya Kashyapa is believed to be around 1000-1500 BC (due to his presence in the conference for origin of Ayurveda). However currently available Kashyapa Samhita is probably the redacted version from 600BC.

काश्यप संहिता ॥ Kashyapa Samhita

Kashyapa Samhita was lost over a period of time but providentially was found by Nepal’s Rajguru Pt. Hemaraj Sharma, put together the verses on tada Patra (palm leaves) and compiled the manuscript. This got published in the year 1938 by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi. there were still many sections missing in this treatise and the one which is read these days is the fourth form of its original text. Pt. Hemaraj Sharma also wrote “Upodghat” on Kashayap Samhita which is in Newari Script, present in Durbar Library in Kathmandu.