Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Physicians (Vaidyas) and Medicine’ found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.
Physicians (Vaidyas) and Medicine
Discussing the types and qualities of Vaidya in Caraka-Saṃhitā, Ācārya Caraka said—there are three types of Vaidyas or physicians, namely—
- pseudo physician,
- feigned physician and
- genuine physicians endowed with requisite qualities[1].
Those who acquire the status of Vaidya by holding physicians’ box containing certain drugs, medical books, imitations, and attire are called pseudo physicians. Those who go on to say that they have the knowledge of a well-known physician, but they do not have any knowledge of their own, call him a feigned physician. And those who are skilled in application, experienced, knowledgeable, accomplished, and protector of life are called genuine physicians.
There are three kinds of medicines, namely,
- spiritual medicine,
- medicine based on reasoning, and
- psychic medicine.
Incantation of mantras, talisman, wearing of gems, auspicious offering, gifts, oblations, observance, of spiritual rules, atonements, fasts, chanting of auspicious hymns, obeisance to the gods, going on pilgrimage, etc., are called of spiritual medicine. Administration of proper diet and medicinal drugs comes under the medicine based on reasoning. Restraining the mind from harmful thoughts to keep peace is called of psychic medicine.
When the vāyu, pitta, and kapha are irritated, all the diseases that occur in the body, usually need three kinds of medicine to cure them, namely-internal-cleansing, externalcleansing and surgical therapy. Medicines that enter the body and destroy food-borne diseases are called internal cleansing. The cleansing therapy which has its curative effect by external contact with the body such as massage, fomentation, unction, affusion and kneading is the external one. Surgical therapy comprises of excision, incision, puncturing, rupturing, scraping, uprooting, rubbing with a substance having rough surface, suturing, probing, application of alkalies and leeches. When the disease appears to a wise person, he accepts external cleansing, internal cleansing and surgical therapy and attains peace. The disease first develops like a molecule and then increases but it grows and grows thereafter and after gaining a strong holding in the body it takes away the strength and life of the fool. The wise person will cure the disease with medicine before the disease is born.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
trividhā bhiṣaja iti -bhiṣakchadmacarāḥ santi santyekesiddhasādhitā |
santi vaidyaguṇairyuktāstrividhā bhiṣajo iti || (CS. -Sūtrasthāna–XI.50); R. K. Sharma & Bhagwan Dash (eds.), Caraka Saṃhitā–Vol. I, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office, 2017, p. 210.