2. Description of Diseases

Reason of Diseases—Man does not live in an absolutely germ-free atmosphere. The only thing that can be done safely is to keep the tissues of the body unreceptive towards these germs. Once the human body is affected, the tissues should be so conditioned by drugs and diet and other regimens. that these germs or bacteria, by whatsoever names they may be called, will find the atmosphere hostile towards their survival, multiplication and growth. In the Manasollasa, Somesvara tells that the change of normal condition is due to food and the bad actions of a man. 20 He explains how dosas affect the human body. Sama (undigested food) is the creator of the 18. D.D. Mehta, Op.cit. p.47. 19. gitam vadyam nrtyam alokhyam visesakacchedyam ... rupyaratnapariksa dhatuvadah || ... 20. veganam dharanadojah snehasukraksayadapi | vatsyayana kamasutra 1.3.16. apivyayamato hinah svasa kasa jvaramayah || 1.19.212. ksaramlalavanairdravyairavidyuktaih sramadapi | atapacca bhrsam pittam kupitam dusayedatrk || 1.19.200. viruddhenannapanena sadhunam nindaya vadhat | praktanaih karmabhih kruraih kustam svitram ca jayate || 2.19.272.

88 dosas, and then it disturbs the Jatharagni. This Jatharagni spreads in the human body. This is called fever or Juara. This Juara is the king of all the diseases. 21 Further, it results into many varietirs of diseases. In respect of each disease, whether named or unnamed, Somesvara says that the following points need careful attention. Nidana or causative factors: These causative factors are further divided into the following four categories: Sannikrsta or those which produce disease quite early, Viprakrsta or those having delayed effects in producing a disease, Vyabhicari or those that are not strong enough to cause a disease and Pradhanika or those having instantaneous effects in producing the disease, viz., strong poisons. The causative factors can further be divided into two groups, namely, exogenous and endogenous. Various types of dust, regimens and the effects of seasons are the exogenous factors. Vitiation of Dosas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) or Prakrtis and Dhatus are the endogenous factors to cause a disease. Purvarupa or Premonitory symptoms: These premonitory symptoms are of two types, viz. general and specific. Some of the premonitory symptoms only indicate the nature of the disease going to be manifested in general. Cf. carakasamhita sutrasthana, 7. 3-5. na vegan dharayedvimanjatan mutrapurisayoh | na retaso na vatasya na charksah ksayathorna ca || nodgarasya na jrmbhaya na vegan ksutpipasayoh | na vaspasya na nidraya nihsvasasya sramena ca || etan dharayato jatan vegan roga bhavanti ye | prthakprthakcikitsartham tanme nigadatah srunu || 21. samo dosascirad hatva pavakam jatharasthitam | nirudhya ca sasancaramudaragnim bahih ksipet || evam vinirgato bahih kayamasritya tapayan | jvara ityucyate tajvaih sarvavyadhipatisca sah || 1.19.145-146.

89 Rupa or manifested signs and symptoms : When the disease is fully manifested, certain signs and symptoms appear. In the Ayurvedic texts, signs and symptoms of each of these diseases are described in detail. Manasollasa explains dumaguru Hrid dalalu | 1-19-143. These are indicative of the stage of the disease and of the Dosas, Dhatus, Agnis, as well as Srotas involved in the manifestation of the disease. They also indicate the prognosis of the disease. On the basis of these signs and symptoms, therapies, diet and regimens are prescribed for the patient. Upasya or exploratory therapy : Sometimes, the causative factor, premonitory symptoms and actual symptoms of the disease, do not well indicate the nature of the disease. A physician in such conditions, resorts to some exploratory therapy to ascertain correctly the nature of the disease. These are the common characteristics of all the Ayurvedic works. But Manasollasa gives some more information for a careful examination of the disease. Somesvara gives importance to the time and place, and also Satmya Prakrti. It means the strength of the patient. Further, it tells that a physician should know the Svarupa or features of a disease, and Laksana i.e., symptoms or distinctive characteristics of the disease and so on.