Wujastyk, D. (ed.), Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit, Vol. 7.

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Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Wujastyk, Dominik (ed.), Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit. Papers of the 12th World Sanskrit Conference. Vol. 7.
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
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Author:

Kenneth Gregory Zysk


Acta Orientalia:

(Founded in 1922 and published annually)

Full text available for: Wujastyk, Dominik (ed.), Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit. Papers of the 12th World Sanskrit Conference. Vol. 7.

Year: 2010 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7346

Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0


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Summary of article contents:

Introduction

The volume "Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit," edited by Dominik Wujastyk, compiles a selection of papers presented at the 12th World Sanskrit Conference, showcasing a multidisciplinary approach that merges Indology with various fields such as mathematics, medicine, social history, and anthropology. Wujastyk emphasizes the potential of this interdisciplinary strategy to engage a broader audience beyond traditional Sanskrit studies while enriching perspectives on global history. The book features an introductory essay and eight papers divided into two main sections: mathematics and medicine, each exploring themes and methodologies without exhaustive coverage of the topics.

The Evolution of Ayurvedic Concepts

One significant concept discussed in this volume is the development of the tridoṣa theory in Ayurveda, as presented by G. Jan Meulenbeld. Contrary to the established view that this medical ideology was fully formed during the compilation of classical texts, Meulenbeld asserts that a close reading of foundational texts like the Carakasaṃhitā reveals that the theory was still evolving when these works were produced. This research illustrates the intricate relationship between medicine and ritual, highlighting that distinctions between the two may not always be clear, and that rituals documented in medical texts were not merely adapted for medical use but were integral to the medical discourse of the time.

Conclusion

The papers in this collection illuminate the rich tapestry of Indian scientific thought and practice, demonstrating how historical and contextual analyses can shed new light on classical texts. The volume showcases promising directions for future research in Sanskrit and Indology, particularly in the fields of mathematics and medicine. Overall, this work is recommended for serious students and scholars interested in the intersectionality of traditional knowledge systems and how they continue to inform contemporary discourse.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What is the main focus of the book 'Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit'?

The book focuses on the intersection of mathematics and medicine in ancient Indian texts, featuring a selection of scholarly papers presented at the 12th World Sanskrit Conference, highlighting multi-disciplinary approaches within the field.

Who edited the volume and what is its significance?

The volume was edited by Dominik Wujastyk, who emphasizes the importance of multi-disciplinary methods in Sanskrit studies. This approach aims to connect Sanskrit scholarship with contemporary audiences and invite wider appreciation of Indian cultural studies.

What are the main topics covered in the essays within the book?

The essays are divided into two main topics: Mathematics, including solutions to algebraic equations, and Medicine, encompassing Ayurvedic theories and practices. Various methodologies are employed to examine these fields within historical contexts.

Glossary definitions and references:

Oriental and Historical glossary list for “Wujastyk, D. (ed.), Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit, Vol. 7.”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.

1) Sanskrit:
Sanskrit is an ancient language of India in which most of the texts and commentaries discussed in the book are written. The language is critical for understanding both historical and contemporary scholarship in Indological studies, including the fields of mathematics and medicine.

2) Medicine:
The book features a section on Medicine, which includes five essays discussing various aspects of Indian medical traditions such as āyurveda. Topics such as the tridoṣa-theory and medical rituals are explored to show the historical development and contextual applications of Indian medical knowledge.

3) Book:
This text is a review of a book titled 'Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit', edited by Dominik Wujastyk, and it encompasses a range of scholarly essays presented at the 12th World Sanskrit Conference, focusing on the intersection of Sanskrit studies with medicine and mathematics.

4) Indian:
The book is dedicated to Indian studies and specifically explores the historical and contemporary contributions of Indian science in fields like medicine and mathematics through a variety of essays by scholars using different methodological approaches.

5) Dvarakanatha (Dvaraka-natha):
Dvārakānātha is a historical figure whose work, specifically his commentary on the Baudhāyana Śulbasūtra, is studied in one of the book's essays. His contributions and the dating of his work are critical to understanding the chronological development of mathematical texts in India.

6) Mathematics (Mathematical):
The book contains essays that delve into Mathematical topics such as algebra, geometry, and the use of diagrams in ancient Indian texts. These essays highlight the sophisticated nature of mathematical practices in historical India.

7) Shulbasutra (Shulba-sutra, Sulbasutra):
Śulbasūtra refers to ancient Indian texts that deal with geometry and algebra. One essay in the book investigates commentaries on these texts, specifically the Baudhāyana and Āpastamba Śulbasūtras, to draw chronological inferences and examine mathematical concepts involved.

8) Bhaskara:
Bhāskara I was a 7th-century mathematician whose work, particularly the geometrical diagrams in his commentary on the Āryabhaṭīya, is examined. The book includes an essay that delves into the practical use of these diagrams, showcasing the rich mathematical tradition in ancient India.

9) Knowledge:
The book aims to bridge Sanskrit studies with contemporary academic disciplines, thereby contributing to a broader view of global history. This interdisciplinary approach seeks to disseminate the traditional knowledge found in Sanskrit texts to a wider audience, enhancing their contemporary relevance.

10) Vagbhata:
Vāgbhaṭa is noted for his medical text the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya-saṃhitā, which includes descriptions of religious rituals. One essay examines these rituals within the medical context, suggesting that medicine and ritual are intertwined in Vāgbhaṭa's work, reflecting broader Brahmanic traditions.

11) Samhita:
Saṃhitā is a term used to denote classical literary collections or compendiums in Sanskrit. Different saṃhitās like Carakasaṃhitā, Suśrutasaṃhitā, Bhelasaṃhitā, and Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya-saṃhitā are discussed in the book, highlighting their contributions to medical and mathematical knowledge.

12) Illness:
Illness, particularly in the context of Ayurvedic and spirit healing traditions, is explored in the book. The study of spirit illness by Antti Pakashlahti examines how cultural conceptualizations of mental and emotional problems align with traditional healing practices in Rajasthan.

13) Sushruta-samhita (Susruta-samhita):
The Suśrutasaṃhitā is one of the classical texts of Indian medicine. Essays in the book analyze its content to trace the development of medical theories like the tridoṣa. This text, along with others, illustrates the historical depth of Indian medical practice.

14) Caraka-samhita:
The Carakasaṃhitā is another cornerstone text in the classical Indian medical tradition. Essays in the book reference it to discuss the evolution of medical theories and its place in the broader context of the development of Ayurveda.

15) Baudhayana:
Baudhāyana is known for ancient Indian mathematical texts like the Baudhāyana Śulbasūtra. The book discusses various commentaries on these texts to draw insights into the historical development of Indian mathematical knowledge.

16) Samskara:
Saṃskāras are life-cycle rituals that are examined in one of the essays in the book, particularly in Vāgbhaṭa’s Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya-saṃhitā. The essay discusses how these religious rituals are incorporated into medical texts, depicting the integration of religious and medical practices.

17) Practice:
The book discusses various historical practices, particularly in medicine and mathematics, as they appear in ancient Indian texts. These practices, as explored in the essays, range from medical rituals to mathematical problem-solving techniques.

18) Balaji:
Balaji shrines in Rajasthan are the focus of a study on spirit illness and its treatment within local traditions. The book includes an anthropological examination of how healers at these shrines conceptualize and address mental and emotional problems.

19) Bheda:
Bheḍa refers to the Bheḍa(la)-saṃhitā, an early medical treatise discussed in the book. An essay re-examines its surviving manuscript to highlight its significance in the history of Indian medicine and suggest its possible dating.

20) Ashtangahridayasamhita (Astangahrdayasamhita, Ashtanga-hridaya-samhita):
[see source text or glossary: Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā]

21) Ashtangahridaya (Astangahrdaya, Ashtanga-hridaya):
[see source text or glossary: Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya]

22) Bhelasamhita (Bhela-samhita):
Bhelasaṃhitā is mentioned in the context of tracing the development of the tridoṣa theory in Indian medical literature. The text is analyzed alongside other saṃhitās to understand the evolution of medical aetiology in Ayurveda.

23) Sharirasthana (Sarirasthana, Sharira-sthana):
Śarīrasthāna refers to the anatomical section in classical medical texts like the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā. An appendix in one essay provides a text from Śarīrasthāna, discussing its relevance to medical and ritual practices in classical Indian medicine.

24) Ritusamgamana (Rtusamgamana, Ritu-samgamana, Rtusangamana, Ritu-sangamana, Ritusangamana):
Ṛtusaṃgamana is a term examined in the book as part of the saṃskāras described in Vāgbhaṭa’s Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya-saṃhitā. It represents the seasonal rituals detailed in these medical texts, highlighting the integration of ritual practices in medical contexts.

25) Brahmagupta (Brahman-gupta):
The work of Brahmagupta, particularly his solutions to second-degree indeterminate equations, is scrutinized in one of the essays. He is recognized as a pivotal mathematician whose contributions significantly advanced algebra in ancient India.

26) Todaramalla (Todara-malla):
Ṭoḍaramalla is the author of Āyurvedasaukhyam, one of the medical texts analyzed to study trends in medical thought just before British colonialism. The book discusses his work alongside other contemporaneous texts to illustrate the diversity in medical knowledge.

27) Bhutavidya (Bhuta-vidya):
Bhūtavidyā refers to the branch of Ayurveda dealing with spirit-related illnesses. One essay suggests that comparing ethnographic data with Sanskrit medical texts like those discussing bhūtavidyā could enrich the understanding of historical and contemporary healing practices involving spirit illnesses.

28) Pumsavana:
Puṃsavana is another saṃskāra or life-cycle ritual discussed in the book. The ritual, described in Vāgbhaṭa’s Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya-saṃhitā, reflects how religious practices are interwoven with medical traditions in ancient Indian texts.

29) Apastamba:
Āpastamba is associated with the Āpastamba Śulbasūtra, a key geometric text. The book includes a study of commentaries on this Śulbasūtra, examining its contributions to the historical development of mathematical knowledge in India.

30) Vireshvara (Viresvara, Vira-ishvara):
Vīreśvara's text, Rogārogavāda, is examined to understand medical innovations before the British era. The book analyzes this text along with others from the same period to reveal the diversity and individuality in medical practices.

31) Rajasthan:
Rajasthan is the region where anthropological research on spirit illness and healing practices was conducted. The book details annual visits to the Balaji shrines in Rajasthan to document and analyze local healing traditions.

32) Inference:
Chronological Inferences are drawn from comparisons between different commentaries on Śulbasūtras, as illustrated in one essay. This methodological approach helps determine the dates and historical context of various mathematical texts discussed in the book.

33) Evolution:
The Evolution of medical theories, such as the tridoṣa, is a focal point in the book. Essays trace the developmental stages of these theories within classical texts like the Carakasaṃhitā, showing that they were still evolving when these texts were compiled.

34) Ayurveda (Ayus-veda):
Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, is central to many essays in the book. Topics include the historical development of the tridoṣa theory, the integration of rituals in medical texts, and the examination of spirit illnesses within Ayurvedic practice.

35) Language:
Language, specifically Sanskrit, is crucial for the philological approach used in most essays. Understanding the nuances of the language helps scholars interpret ancient texts accurately and place them within their historical and cultural contexts.

36) Illusion:
The Illusion of a consistent theory in Ayurveda is discussed in one of the book's essays, which argues against the idea that the tridoṣa theory was fully established during the compilation of classical texts like the Carakasaṃhitā and Suśrutasaṃhitā.

37) Tridosha (Tridosa, Tri-dosha):
The Tridoṣa theory is a central concept in Ayurveda that explains disease causation. An essay in the book challenges the notion that this theory was fully developed early on, showing instead that it evolved over time within classical texts.

38) Disease:
Disease and its conceptualization in classical Indian medical texts are extensively discussed in the book. Essays explore different medical theories, their development, and their practical applications in diagnosing and treating illnesses.

39) Student:
Students of Sanskrit and Indology are the primary audience for this book. The essays offer rich insights into the historical development of Indian science and medicine, making it recommended reading for those seriously pursuing studies in these fields.

40) Unmada:
Unmāda refers to mental disorders in Ayurvedic texts. The book suggests that comparing contemporary ethnographic findings with these historical sections could enhance the understanding of how mental illnesses have been conceptualized and treated in different periods.

41) Ganita:
Gaṇita is the Sanskrit term for mathematics. The book includes studies of mathematical sections in ancient texts like the Āryabhaṭīya, shedding light on the sophisticated mathematical practices that were present in historical India.

42) Sharman (Sarma, Sharma, Sarman):
K. V. Sharma is the author of the introductory essay 'Sanskrit and Science: A New Area of Study'. He advocates for the study of ancient Indian science through the lens of modern scientific knowledge, thereby setting the stage for the collection of essays in the book.

43) Shrine:
Shrines, specifically the Balaji shrines in Rajasthan, are the focus of an anthropological study in the book. These shrines are significant locations for documenting spirit illness and healing practices within the local cultural context.

44) Botany:
[see source text or glossary: Botany]

45) Future:
The Future relevance of Sanskrit and Indological studies is a theme discussed in the book. The interdisciplinary approach advocated by the editor highlights how these studies can contribute to a richer understanding of global history and modern academic discourse.

46) Gupta:
R.C. Gupta made an earlier conclusion about the dating and originality of Dvārakānātha's work. The book references and builds upon Gupta’s findings to offer more precise chronological inferences about ancient Indian mathematical texts.

47) Delhi:
Delhi is where the book was published by Motilal Banarsidass in 2009. This publication provides a comprehensive scholarly resource on Mathematics and Medicine in Sanskrit, contributing to the field of Indological studies.

48) India:
India is the geographical and cultural backdrop for the studies presented in the book. The essays explore various aspects of India's historical contributions to science and medicine, underscoring the country's rich intellectual heritage.

49) Fruit:
The 'Fruit' of Sanskrit studies, as advocated in the book, lies in its potential to enrich contemporary academic disciplines and global history. This interdisciplinary approach can yield new insights and promote a deeper understanding of ancient and modern knowledge systems.

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