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Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Gātravādya (गात्रवाद्य) refers to “music made with the body”, and is mentioned in verse 2.40-44 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] music (made) by body [viz., gātravādya], mouth, and nails; the shaking of hands and hair; the walking between (two) waters, fires, and respectable (men); the smoke resulting from (the cremation of) corpses; [...] (all these things) one shall eschew. In all activities of a wise (man) the world alone (is) his teacher”.

Note: Vaktra (“mouth”) has been changed into mchu (“lip”) and vādya (“music”) into sgra ’byin (“causing noise to come forth, making noise”). This and the next precept are apparently aimed at those who, like modern jazz fans, make a habit of accompanying music by striking their bodies, clicking with their tongues or lips, clapping their hands or finger-nails, and the like. This is also the interpretation proposed by K. L. Bhishagratna for the parallel passage in Suśrutasaṃhitā IV.24.95 “na gātranakhavaktravāditraṃ kuryāt”—“one shall not make music with body, nails, and mouth” or, as the commentator Ḍalhaṇa puts it, “na gātraṃ vādyabhāṇḍaṃ”—“one shall not make one’s body a musical instrument”.

context information

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

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Gatra, Vadya.

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