Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Treatment of Keshavriddhi (hair loss and growth)’ 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 Keśavṛddhi (hair loss and growth)
In Atharva Veda said charms against Keśavṛddhi. The Atharvaveda discusses the treatment of diseases such as hair loss, hair growth and keśadṛṅhaṇa. There are descriptions of Nitatnī medicine in two sūktas in Atharvaveda[1]. It enlarges the hair and strengthens the hair follicles. It helps to grow new hair in places where there is no hair. Devī and Cupunīkā are other names for Nitatnī medicine. This medicine is found underground. Sāyaṇācārya means—Nyakprasaraṇaśīlā Auṣadhi [auṣadhiḥ], Kākamācīpramṛti Auṣadhi [auṣadhiḥ]. Kākamācī is called Makoya. According to Kauśika Sūtra, to prevent hair loss, Makoya has to be applied mixed with Bhṛṅgarāja. In Atharvaveda, it is said that hair loss and baldness are cured by the application of Nitatnī medicine. This medicine used for hair makes it grow very fast, and long the hair grows strong, white hair turns black and the hair disease is cured. More fascinating are the practices laid out in the Kauśika Sūtra for growth of hair, in connection with VI.21[2]. But to some extent they are abstruse: the person desiring growth of hair is washed off as the hymn is being recited with water heated by burning plants that have grown upon earth under trees.
His head is washed with an effusion prepared by heating dice in water and also from two Nikāṭā plants i.e., according to Dāḍila—
“dāruharidrā”;
And according to Sāyaṇa—
“haridrākvāthodakena”.
There is a much-particularised formula for growing hair. Again, in VI.136 Kauśika Sūtra advises the consumption of the fruit of the plant Nitatnī together with Jīvī and Alākā[3]. All these are distilled into a solution and poured upon the head of the person wishing for the growth of hair. The performance is to be undertaken early in the morning by the priest who is clothed in black and has had black food. In a mantra in the Atharvaveda, the soil is used as a herbal product for hair. In the Atharvaveda, Kuṣṭha medicine and Śamī tree is said to be beneficial for hair. Besides, in the Atharvaveda, it has been said that it is beneficial for the hair-like Jīvantī or Pāṭhā medicine, sesame, Bibhīdaka etc. In the Paippalāda Saṃhitā, Kṣetriyanāśanī Vīrudh is said to be beneficial for hair. The Śyāmā and Sarūpaṅkaranī herbs mentioned in the Atharvaveda are also said to be beneficial for blackening hair[4].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
devī devyāmadhi jātā pṛthivyāmasyoṣadhe |
tāṃ tvā nitatni keśebhyo dṛṃhaṇāya khanāmasi || (AV. –VI/136/1); Atharva-Veda-Saṃhitā along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol.–3, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 679.
[2]:
[3]:
devi devyāṃ yāṃ jamadagniriti mantroktāphalaṃ jīvyalākābhyāmamāvāsyāyāṃ kṛṣṇavasanaḥ kṛṣṇabhakṣaḥ purā kākasampātādavanakṣatre'vasiñcati || (Kauśika Sūtra-31.28);Atharvavedīya–Kauśika Gṛhyasūtraṃ (Dārilakeśavayosaṃ-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahitaṃ), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office,2009, p. 75.