Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Treatment of Skin diseases (Carmaroga) and Leprosy (Kushtha)’ 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.
Treatment of Skin diseases (Carmaroga) and Leprosy (Kuṣṭha)
[Note: For a detailed study, see the comparative study of Leprosy in the Atharvaveda]
Atharvaveda discusses dermatological Diseases or Carmaroga. The disease of the skin is called Carmaroga. For the treatment of skin diseases, certain medicine is mentioned. For instance, in Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā Pītudāru is talked about. In Vedas, synonymous words of Pūtudāru are Pītadāru, Pūtudru and Pūtadru. In Atharvaveda, this is called Amīvacātana[1]. The oil of Devadāru trees also has medicinal properties. This can treat old skin diseases and is good for leprosy. Atharvaveda says that Gulgulu is good for ulu is good for arthritis, goitre, leprosy, and Vāta-vyādhi, etc. Atharvaveda and Yajurveda mention the use of Tila. The oil of Tila can be used for hair, skin and pimples. Dūrvā grass is good for skin disease and can be used to stop nose bleeds. Śatavāra cures Piles, leprosy and irritation of the skin. Atharvaveda also says that the Maṇḍūkī is good medicine for dermatological diseases, skin irritation, leprosy, Syphilis and different types of wounds. The Sala tree is not only can be used as an amulet but also as a medicine for Carmaroga, poison, pimples, Koḍha and ear disease etc.[2]
Leprosy turns a person hideous that is why it is called Kuṣṭha.
“śarīraṃkuṣṇātikutsitaṃkarotiitikuṣṭham |”.
In Atharvaveda, the reason for Kilāsa and Palita has been called Dūṣiḥ[3]. This Doṣas are untimely consumption of meals, aimless and unsystematic movement, bad deeds, illegitimate relationship and having meals with the patient. When Dhatus like flesh, fat and bones are polluted it becomes the reason for Kilāsa and Palita. The medicines for white leprosy or Kilāsa and Palita mention in Atharvaveda are Naktaṃ, Rāmā, Kṛṣṇā, Asiknī, Rajanī, Brahman, Āsurī and Śyāmā etc. Kilāsa and Palita are cured by AV.I.23 and 24. The practices connected with these are given at Kauśika Sūtra[4]. The practising priest while reciting the hymns rubs the sores of the patient till they become red. He smears these with the substances–Bhṛṅgarāja, Haridrā, Indravāruṇī and Nīlikā. He then cuts the white scurf and having covered the patient, performs the rite to the Maruts[5].
The Atharvaveda speaks of the application of Kuṣṭha medicine to alleviate colic or pain or Śūla. It is accompanied by Soma medicine in the Himālayas. It is said to cure headaches, eye and body aches[6]. Kūṭha’s ointment is beneficial for wounds, sores etc. It is also used in chronic skin diseases. The Atharvaveda mentions Pītudāru, Pūtudru or Devadāru. Devadāru decoction is used for diseases like oedema, stone, gonorrhoea, syphilis etc. Its oil is chemistry. Devadāru is used for pain, wounds and skin diseases. Rheumatism, neuralgia or colic is treated by the Kauśika Sūtra in connection with VI.90[7]. An amulet of the spear is attached to the patient while the hymn is being recited by him. The Atharvaveda mentions Pṛṣṭyāmaya or back pain disease[8]. Jaṅgiḍa maṇi, Puṣkara root and orris root are mentioned to cure this disease. The Atharvaveda mentions diseases associated with the spleen and an enlarged disease of the spleen or liver[9]. Pippalī, kṣiptabheṣajī is mentioned to cure this disease. Also, Pippalī and Bibhītaka medicines have been used to cure this disease.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
agneḥ śarīramasi pārayiṣṇu rakṣohāsi sapatnahā |
atho amīvacātanaḥ pūtudrurnāma bheṣajam || (AV. –VIII/2/28); Atharva-Veda-Saṃhitā along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol.–2, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 148.
[2]:
[3]:
[4]:
naktaṃ jātā suparṇo jāta iti mantroktaṃ śakṛdā lohitaṃ praghṛṣyālimpati || palitānyācchidya || mārutānyapihitaḥ || (Kauśika Sūtra-26.22-24); Atharvavedīya–Kauśika Gṛhyasūtraṃ (Dārilakeśavayosaṃ-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahitaṃ), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 60-61.
[5]:
samutpatantu pra nabhasveti varṣakāmo dvādaśarātramanuśuṣyet || sarvavrata upaśrāmyati || maruto yajate yathā varūṇaṃ juhoti || oṣadhīḥ sampātavatīḥ praveśyābhinyubjati || viprāvayeta || śvaśiraeṭakaśiraḥkeśajaradupānaho vaṃśāgre prabadhya yodhayati || udapātreṇa sampātavatā samprokṣyāmapātraṃ tripāde'śmānamavadhāyāpsu nidadhāti || (Kauśika Sūtra-41.1-7); Atharvavedīya–Kauśika Gṛhyasūtraṃ (Dārilakeśavayosaṃ-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahitaṃ), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 98-99.
[6]:
śīrṣāmayamupahatyamakṣyostanvorapaḥ |
kuṣṭhastat sarvaṃ niṣkarad daivaṃ samaha vṛṣṇyam || (AV. –V/4/10); Acarya Vedanta Tirtha (ed.), Atharvaveda–Vol. 1, Delhi, Manoj Publication, 2012, p. 218.
[7]:
yāṃ yāṃ te rudra iti śūline śūlam || (Kauśika Sūtra-31.7); Atharvavedīya–Kauśika Gṛhyasūtraṃ (Dārilakeśavayosaṃ-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahitaṃ), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, p. 73.