Sharangadhara’s Nadi Pareeksha and its implications in Ayurveda

Ever since man has started colonising the knowledge for survival and dependence over each other made him social animal. But aggregated knowledge and added wisdom transformed such colonisation in to civilizations. Ayurveda is said to be Upanga of Atharvanaveda. The mythological connection yielded the Ayurveda in Triskanda Ayurveda but the amassing the doctrines of Indian philosophy made it to today’s Living sciences the Ayurveda. By 2nd BC the classical works of Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita is believed to have been written. The trend of writing such voluminous work even extended upto 6th AD believed to be the period of Astanga Hrudaya Samhita. The upsurge of Rasa Shastra and the geopolitical changes happening in India had almost pull stopped the progress of Ayurvedic Literature for further 6 centuries. But it was post Shoddala period that is 12th century AD onwards, we find with the specific intent and with a particular domain literature emerged which we call period of Laghutrayee. The same post Shoddala period we find some serious, literary mammoth works in Ayurveda came in the form of commentaries. Dalhana, Chakrapaniduta, Arunaduta and Hemadri commentaries even today believed to more authentic came in this period for the Brihatrayee. This exploration of Sharangadhara in to the Nadi Pareeksha is one such add on with a specific reason addressing the entrance level teaching so that the system become more simpler and approachable. In the article an attempt is made to exhibit need specific moulding of Nadi Pareeksha which was imported from neighbours is specifically blended; not only to the basics of Ayurveda but was practised as a tool of a) diagnosis, b) prognosis c) treatment and d) even death was determined by it

Agni - Key factor for Shodhananga Snehapana

Agni is termed as Vaishwanara as it takes the person from Mruthyuloka to Swargaloka. It is an important factor and is equitant to Prana; is one among Dashaprana Ayatana. Agni in Shareera is present in different forms with different actions. It is the responsible factor for both health and disease; on the other hand the successful outcome of treatment is also dependant on Agni. Chikitsa (treatment) is the process of bestowing normalcy which is either brought by Shodhana (purificatory) or Shamana (palliative) Karma. Snehapana is a pre-operative procedure for Shodhana Chikitsa where in Sneha Dravya (medicated fat) is administered for attainment of Upasthita Dosha Avastha and further ease in elimination of the vitiated Doshas. Assessment of Dosha, Dushya, Vyadhi Avastha, Roga Bala, Rogi Bala, Agni, Koshta etc. factors are essential for the attainment of Chikitsa Phala. Assessment of Agni not only helps in understanding Vyadhi but also enables to plan the dosage of Sneha to be administered. Thus this paper is an attempt to throw light on the importance of Agni, assessment of Agni and Agni Bala prior to Shodhananga Snehapana

Circulatory system of Sharangadhara Samhita

In the back light of the inspirational article of Kishor Patwardhan ji ‘The history of the discovery of blood circulation: unrecognized contributions of Ayurveda masters’ raising at most relevant issue of neglected Ayurvedic scholars’ contribution to the field of Anatomy-physiology well ahead of the contemporary developing sciences. Crawling in the same lines this article is dedicated for one such legendary Sharangadhara and his work related to Circulatory system. Structural entities play a major role in any of the system; especially in Medicine and that too in Ayurveda as it recommends ‘Rogam ado pareekshet’ shows how important the examination of a diseased person is considered by our Acharyas. The Circulatory System is one such structural physical entity, not only circulate but has additional Functions like Nutrition, Metabolism, Excretion system of body depends, endocrine etc. As early as 200 BC, works to understand this human body was initiated. In this article an attempt is made to sketch out the understanding of circulatory system as evident in 14th century in India through the prismatic view of Sharangadhara Samhita and its commentator

KALYANAKARAKAM – A GEM OF AYURVEDA

Background: The origin of Ayurveda is lost in mysteries of time; since the earliest human civilization, man has sought ways to heal himself. Human civilization progressed, bringing in sophisticated thought & research behind medicine. It is believed that a system of medicine was prevalent in India in pre Vedic times. The Vedas are the earliest written records of the wisdom & insights of Indian seekers & scholars. Medicine is an ever changing science. Literary research is must in today’s perspective to get the hidden & unexplored knowledge. On this regard many Acharya’s contributed to ancient science i.e. Ayurveda. Jain seers have written several texts in Sanskrit on Ayurveda they are similar in content & finding to Vedic text. One among them is Kalyanakarakam, was composed by Acarya Ugraditya, a Jain monk who is believed to have lived in the 9th century of the Common Era. This text comprises of 667 Sanskrit hemistich divided into 25 chapters and one special section on predicting death. The chapters cover all aspects of Ayurveda with great depth and thoroughness. Aims & Objective: 1) To compile the literature bearing Svastha Rakshana i.e. preventive aspects in the form of Dinacharya (daily regimen), Rutu-charya (seasonal regimen) etc. &some other concepts like knowledge about Prakruti (nature) Desha (region), Kala (time), important anatomical structures, and regimens for pregnant women etc. Materials & Methods: Study aims to review the preventive aspects which are mentioned in Kalyanakarakam. Conclusion: Inculcating all the concepts which elucidates the concept of prevention is much essential in today’s perspective