Significance of Ashtangahridayasamhita

The Ashtangahridayasamhita is a foundational ancient Indian medical text within the Ayurvedic tradition, authored by Vagbhata in the seventh century. It serves as a comprehensive compendium that encompasses a wide range of medical knowledge, including the properties of alkaline substances, treatments for illnesses, and the management of bodily humours. This work also integrates aspects from other classical texts like the Carakasamhita and Sushrutasamhita, making it a crucial resource for understanding Ayurvedic practices and theories, including rejuvenation techniques known as rasayana.

In Dutch: Ashtangahridayasamhita; In Finnish: Ashtangahridayasamhita; In Spanish: Ashtangahridayasamhita; In Swedish: Ashtangahridayasamhita; In Malay: Ashtangahridayasamhita; In German: Ashtangahiridayamhita

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Hindu concept of 'Ashtangahridayasamhita'

Hinduism Books

The Ashtangahridayasamhita is a vital Ayurvedic text in Hinduism that outlines medical treatments, purgation techniques, management of humours, and the properties of alkaline substances, serving as a comprehensive resource for ancient Indian medical knowledge.

Significance in Ayurveda (science of life):
Ayurveda Books

From: Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapter on Medicine)

(1) A significant ancient Indian medical text that discusses the properties and types of alkaline substances.[1] (2) A medical text that discusses treatments for illnesses, including methods for purgation and the importance of managing humours.[2] (3) A significant compendium of essential medical knowledge within the Ayurvedic tradition, also known for its comprehensive nature.[3]

Ayurveda is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Ayurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

The concept of Ashtangahridayasamhita in local and regional sources

History Books

The Ashtangahridayasamhita is a foundational seventh-century Sanskrit medical text by Vagbhata, synthesizing earlier works and detailing concepts like age, cooking processes, rasayana rejuvenation practices, and the definitions of disease through humor imbalance.

Significance in India history and geography:

From: History of Science in South Asia

(1) Ashtangahridaya-samhita is the text from which the definition of disease as the unbalance of the humours is clearly translated, according to BhM.[4] (2) A work credited to Vagbhata, along with the Ashtangasamgraha, which is a significant text in the study of ancient Indian medicine, addressing the structure of the year and the characteristics of the seasons.[5] (3) The Ashtangahridayasamhita is a text that describes how food is transformed as it is cooked, and the cooking process produces phlegm, bile, and wind at different stages.[6] (4) This is an Ayurvedic classic that contains information on Indian rasayana practices, which are related to rejuvenation and are linked to the Sowa Rigpa episteme.[7] (5) Vagbhata’s Ashtangahridayasamhita, which attempts to bring the Sushrutasamhita and the Carakasamhita into a single coherent text, was widely used in the period between 1400–1850.[8]