Aims of the present work

The major aims of this research study are as follows: Firstly, the objective of the study is to carry out a close analysis of the general diseases to figure out the remedies by the prescriptions of Atharvaveda.

The second objective of the study is to critically analyze the diseases to carry out minute examinations of the diseases to find remedies by the prescription of Caraka-Saṃhitā.

The third objective of the study is to carry out a comparative study between Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā in the context of the approaches of treatment for general diseases.

The concluding objective of the study is to understand the nature at the treatment that evolved gradually from the dependence to abstract and spiritual phenomena to the understanding of the nature of human body function so, that natural elements could be utilized to treat such diseases.

Scope and Coverage

The study is confined to books, papers, articles and journals. The period covered in the study is from 1200 BCE to 16th CE. The geographical limit of the coverage is confined to India and the Indian sub-continent. The collected data belongs to Atharvaveda, Caraka-Saṃhitā and other critical books, journals, and web sources etc., related to Āyurveda.

Research Methodology

The present research work is based on various Primary and Secondary sources. The method which is adopted in this paper is descriptive, while sometimes narrative technique has also been adopted. This paper gives a comparative study between Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā regarding the treatment of diseases with the scientific approach in ancient India. The information is mainly collected from Ṛgveda, Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā and part of ancient history, particularly Pre-Vedic and Vedic age.

The necessary data are accumulated from different secondary sources such as the Religion and philosophy of Āyurveda, common life in the Ṛgveda and Atharvaveda, Atharvaveda Bhāratīya Saṃskṛti, History of Sanskrit literature, History of Vedic literature, History of medicine in India, Medicinal Therapy in Atharvaveda, The Atharvaveda and The Āyurveda, Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Aṣṭāṅga-Saṃgraha, Kāśyapa- Saṃhitā, Taittirīya Saṃhitā, Yogaratnākara, RasendrasāraSaṅgraha, Śāraṅgadhara- Saṃhitā, Bhāvaprakāśa, Mādhava Nidāna, Suśruta-Saṃhitā, Manusaṃhitā, Sāmaveda Saṃhitā, Bṛhadāraṇyaka-Upaniṣad, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, The Kauśika-Sūtra of Atharvaveda, Āyurveda Itihāsaṃ-I, II; Āyurveda Kā Itihāsa & Paricaya, Prachin Bharate Āyurveda O Rasayan Chinta, Medical Science in the Vedas, The Essences of the Vedas, Āyurveda Saṃgraha, History of Āyurveda, A Textbook of Padartha Vijnana Evam Āyurveda Itihasa, Sanskrit–Vāṅmaya Ka Bṛhad Itihasa, etc. The secondary sources also include various Journals, Sanskrit Scriptures and different web sources.

Scope for the further Research

Every attempt has been made to make this work very comprehensive, but there is always the possibility for further research because my research work is limited only to a comparative study of five diseases confined to Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā. So, there is always a scope of further research on the rest of the diseases not covered in my thesis so far.

Importance of the Study

Since the volume of the work of Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā are enormous, a lot of studies have been carried out to assess the difference between the fundamental nature of the identification and remedy of certain diseases as prescribed in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā respectively, though any direct approach has not been carried out to present a clear picture about the variety and nature of remedial procedures in these two volumes. My study will unveil the curtain to analyze the similarities and disparity of the nature of treatment and remedial procedures between Atharvaveda and Caraka- Saṃhitā. Regarding my present study utmost care has been invested to carry out an indepth analysis to understand even the minute features and characteristics of these two volumes in respect of the ancient Indian medical knowledge.