Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Treatment of Eye diseases’ 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 Eye diseases
The Atharvaveda contains descriptions of medicines for the treatment of eye diseases. In the Atharvaveda, water has been described as a Mahauṣadhi for eye diseases[1]. To cure eye diseases and increase eye strength, some rules of hydrotherapy are—to wash the eyes with cold water for one to two minutes in the morning. Before bathing, the eyes should be dipped four to five times in a wide water container. The eyes should be washed daily with pink alum water. In three sūktas of the Atharvaveda, Āñjana is said to be a beneficial medicine for eye diseases[2].
In the Paippalāda Saṃhitā, Āñjana is said to be a Netra-Jyoti-bardhaka and a killer of hereditary diseases. Beneficial for Kuṣṭha medicine and eye treatment in Atharvaveda. Various medicines for white lotus pollen have been said to be beneficial for eye diseases. Namely—Ābayu, Bibhīdaka, Muñja, Bihahla, Śatavāra, Śara, Śāli, Sarṣapa, Silāñjālā, Srekaparṇa. Atharva Veda VI.16 is a charm against Akṣiroga. The Kauśika Sūtra gives the following rite: While the hymn is being recited, the amulet from the stem of the mustard plant anointed with the dregs of mustard oil is fastened upon the patient. The leaf of the same plant mixed with oil and is given to the patient as well as four fruits of Śāka tree. A Paste made from the sap of the plant is smeared upon the eyelids of the patient. The remaining paste is given to the patient to eat[3].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
IV/9/1-10; XIX/45/1-5; Veda Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, trans. Dilip Mukhopadhyaya, Kolkata, Aksaya Library, 2017, pp. 320-321; 999-1000.
[3]:
āvayo iti sārṣapaṃ tailasampātaṃ badhnāti || kāṇḍaṃ pralipya || pṛktaṃ śākaṃ prayacchati || catvāri śākaphalāni prayacchati || kṣīralehamāṅ kte || aśnāti || (Kauśika Sūtra-30.1-6); Atharvavedīya–Kauśika Gṛhyasūtraṃ (Dārilakeśavayosaṃ-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahitaṃ), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 70-71.