Physician as depicted in Manasollasa
by Sri B. S. Hebballi | 2001 | 75,801 words
This thesis critically evaluates the role of physicians in Ayurvedic literature, particularly in King Somesvara's Manasollasa. It explores the connection between mind and body health, emphasizing the influence of diet and actions....
4. Environmental factors and the body’s capacity for resistance
The environmental factors governing a living being are both external and internal. Air, water, place and time are external. Emotional imbalance and mal-adjustments are internal. The former causes physical disorders whereas the latter result in psychic aberrations. In normal
160 circumstances, there may not be any cause for anxiety. In extra-ordinary circumstances, different reasons may cause different diseases. A shrewd physician, who knows both external and internal actions and reactions, exercises great caution in recognising and remedying the diseases. The impact of air on the system is very important depending upon the season, e.g., in winter one experiences cold wind. In spring, it may be very slow. In rainy season it may be quite uncomfortable. At times, there may be gale or whirlwind with terrific speed or noise. When it blows carrying smoke or particles of dust, it is injurious for health. Contamination of water is another factor. When water gets contaminated, it has foul smell with change in colour. Neither a living being bathes in it nor uses it for drinking purposes. Even animals living in water are affected by such water and suffer from diseases. Fish, tortoise, crocodile, etc. suffer from it and grow thin. Even birds do not feel like tasting such water. Contaminated water causes ill-health. A place or a country devoid of natural physical surroundings can be a source of health hazards and misery for living beings. A place full of reptiles, infested with mosquitoes, flies, rats, etc. becomes uninhabitable and such a place is unsafe for normal healthy being. Food grains may be destroyed. Unusual noise or sound of animals disturbs rest or sleep. Parched ponds and lakes, earthquakes and storms, piercing rays of the sun, change in the course of planets etc. are not signs of healthy surroundings. Extreme climatic changes cause unusually hot or cold seasons, unusual rains or drought. These cause great misery for man, for animals, for birds and plants and herbs. In such a hostile surrounding, life becomes miserable and various types of diseases spread. Science of life or Ayurveda suggests ways and means of combating such deadly diseases by proper diagnosis and effective treatment. By close observation, the sages in the past felt that change in air, water,
161 place and time is inter-related. After analysis, a physician can determine. how polluted air is the cause for water-contamination, how foul air and water make a place unhealthy and how such places affect the seasons also. It is through timely use of disinfectants, such pollutions are checkmated and impure elements eradicated. For the purpose of eradication of diseases caused by various pollutions, a routine intake of diet, behaviour and movements have been recommended in Ayurveda. Prevention of diseases and promotion of health are the primary objects of this science of life. Cure of such diseases is also its another main objective. If a person reasonably follows the routine of diet, behaviour and movements, the cause of imbalance of dosa is less. Diseases result only when there is mal-adjustment in dosa." For maintenance of natural status or PMT of dosas, a routine for day - dinacarya, night - ratricarya and different seasons - rtucarya is prescribed. consists of rising early in the morning and meditating on God according to one's chosen idol. After answering nature's call and taking physical exercise or performing yogasana, one should have a comfortable bath to eliminate the heat of the body and mind. After bath and worship of the deity according to one's faith, it is good to practise pranayama to promote physical and mental well-being. Breakfast should be taken according to one's professional work, with devotion. After having nourishing and tasty fresh lunch, one should take some rest and again attend to one's legitimate work. consists of light work after evening exercise and taking dinner. Too many offsprings should be avoided to make the family small and contented. As the semen is the fine and root of life, celibacy has 7. aharancacaram cestah seveta manuso vidhina | yena tanau dosadyah vaisamyam nanuyuh gadakrt || 4 || - sodasangahrdayam - svasthavrttam Tr. Dr. P. V. Sharma p-252.
162 to be observed for longevity and happiness. Sleep is known as as it is the sustainer of creatures by removing the entire fatigue of the body and mind and restoring freshness. ratrau kincit karyam krtva bhuktva ca samvisecchayane | natikathora subhrastarane masakapraroddhiyute | rtukale nijapatnya santanartham vyavayamatha kuryat | atisamntane varjyah parivare sukhasamrddhyartham || sukram caramam dhatum jivitamulam narah sada rakset | brahmacaran khalu yatnad dirghayustvaya saukhyaya || nidra divasasrantim tanumanasorharati lilaya'sesam | yena punarnutanatam dhatte to bhutadhatri sa || ( sodasangahrdayam - svasthavrttam 20- 23 p. 253.) rtucarya comprises of routine for the six seasons. varsa rainy season, sarat - autumn, hemanta - early winter, sisira - late winter, vasamta - spring and - grisma summer. The former three come under visargakala - releasing period while the latter belong to adanakala - receiving period. In the visargakala releasing period, ATH - moon, is predominant. This promotes creation and strength. In the adanakala - receiving period, surya - sun, is intense. He sucks all the sap or strength of living beings.8 rtucarya - seasonal routine, is very important. Various physiological symptoms of increase and decrease are visible in this period. So, each, season, is described in detail so that both the physician and the patient may become aware of the possible changes and take necessary precautions before restoring normalcy or responding positively to the treatment given. 8. varsasaraddhimanta rtavah sisirasca madhavogrismah | purve trayo visargastatvapare cadanakalah syat || adye somah prabalah kramaso bhavati pravrstabalakari | aparasmistu dinesah kramasah taiksnyat balam harati | | Ibid. 24-25 p.253.
163 In varsa - rainy season, humidity is more. Digestion is slow. Due to faulty elimination of excreta, dosa, vata, gets aggravated. In order to maintain digestive capacity, one is advised to take light diet. Old rice, intake of aristas mixed with honey is advised. Diet should be mainly of salts, fatty substances and sours which pacify c. Drinking boiled or hot water is advised. One should avoid contact with contaminated water and also avoid sleep during day time.9 During sarat - autumn, pitta - pitta, accumulated during varsartu gets aggravated. Piercing sun rays cause burning sensation resulting in fu disorder. So, sweets, bitters, cold and light items are necessary in the diet to pacify fc. Purgative is advised to eliminate fun. It is suggested to avoid sun-heat.10 -During early winter, digestive fire becomes strong and able to assimilate even heavy items. There is no harm when one protects himself against cold. Hot water bath after physical exercise is always good. Light diet, which aggravates , may be avoided.11 vata, sisira - late winter, is the beginning of adana - receiving period. The routine of is continued in this season with greater attention to protect oneself from cold and vata - 9. 10. adanakalaprathamah sisirartustena rauksyaprarambhah | meghapravatavarsajanitam sitasya bhuyastvam || sodasangahrdayam - sisirartucarya - 43. p. 255. varsasu baspadosadagnirmandyam bhajenmalinavapusam | dosastatah prakopam yanti visesattu gandhavahah | | Ibid. 26, p.253 varsasancitapittam sahasa tigmamsutiksnatarakiranaih | saradi prakopam gacchat dahadivikarakari syat || annam panam madhuram tatra vidheyam satiktakam sulaghu | sitam pittaprasamam matrakaladi suvicarya || pittasya sodhanartham kale kale virecanam vidhina | tiktausadhasamsiddham sarpiscapi prayunjita || Ibid. 33-35, p-254. 11. hemante tvatisite sitamarutsparsayogasamruddhah | agnirbhavati baliyan gurubhojyadravyapaka patuh || Ibid. 37, p-254.
164 In a spring, sun rays emit heat and so accumulated in water gets aggravated. 12 Intake of diet consisting of wheat, barley and Bengal gram, physical exercise and hot water bath are advised.13 grisma, summer, is a season when rays of the sun draw out the sap of living beings making them exhausted and weak. To counteract it, one should take rice with ghee and cold sweetened milk. Cold water bath is preferred and sleeping outside under the blue sky during nights would be pleasant. Sours, pungents, salty, hot, dry and rough items may be avoided in diet. 14 The effect of air, water, space and time on a living body has been discussed in detail till now. Another important factor governing health is considered the trio of diet, sleep and celibacy. Just as acara is paramodharma, ahara is paramo adhara of prana . Food is the source of life. Proper intake of food is necessary for nourishment. Strength, nutrition and contentment are the root cause of nourishment. Lest the body gets decayed by its selfdestroying nature, nourishing diet becomes essential stambhastrayah prasiddha ahara - svapna - sukrasamraksah | kayastisthati tesu prayatastasmad bhavet purusah || prananamapi mulam tvannam puruso'sti naiva tena vina | ata ahara karyo vidhina balapustitusti karah || ksanabhanguram sariram pratipalamapaciyate nijarabdhaih | tatputtrtye balasaktyadhanartham grahya ahara || sodasangahrdayam - svasthavrttam - 55-57 p.256. 12. sitenicitah slesmadinakarakiranaih prakopamupayati 13. tasmad vasamtakale kaphajah rogah prajayante | | Ibid. 45. p-255. kaphasamanartham yojyam bhojyam godhumacanakayavayuktam | vyayamasca nisevyah saucavidhih kosnasalilena || Ibid. 47. p. 255. 14. adatte tu nidaghe suryo nijarasmibhirjagatsneham | ata eva yati krsatam daurbalyancapi loko'smin || Ibid. 49. samlam katuksalavanam bhojyam grisme vivarjayonniyatam | suskam ruksanca bahu vyayamancatape gamanam || Ibid. 54, p.255.
165 In an age when adulteration of food products is common, it is very difficult to decide about a wholesome diet to nourish and replenish the decaying body. Although there cannot be a fool-proof nutritive diet, it is safer to follow the suggestions given in svasthavrttam of sodasangahrdayam .