Preface

Āyurveda etymologically means “Knowledge of life science or generally speaking, up keeping a sound health”. In ancient and medieval times, when there were no health clinics or modern medical equipment, people used to treat their occasional and seasonal ailments with herbs, roots and leaves of various kinds of trees, grass, roots, fruits, flowers collected from their vicinity.

Āyurvedic medicinal preparations or potions and oil and application of head were meant to treat abnormal health conditions. Āyurvedic medicinal potions, preparations, tablets or heat applications were not food, but the entire ingredients originated in soil due to climatic preconditions. Food requires heat, boiling mixed with water, oil and spices etc. But the same food plants, when applied to Āyurvedic treatment, were used as raw or in liquefied state. Āyurvedic herbs, roots, plants were even used to treat the abnormal conditions of cows, goats and other domestic animals by the practitioners of Āyurvedic medics, commonly known as ‘Kavirāja’.

To sum up, Āyurvedic medicinal properties are regional, local and seasonal. It is first hand and impromptu treatment of the annually prevalent diseases in a certain place or region. In earlier times, there was no Āyurvedic laboratory; therefore, no alcoholic content was added to it. In present times there has been a lot of advancement in Āyurvedic medicine and treatment and even degrees are awarded on Āyurveda Śāstra or medicine. In government hospitals there is provision for one Āyurveda doctor, too. Now-a-days, due to the proven adverse side effects of modern medicines people are getting interested in Āyurvedic treatment. Various organizations and NGOs are emphasizing it as community medical endeavor for the marginal people.

Lastly, it can be said that though Āyurvedic is the earliest medical tradition in India. But due to its rudimentary nature it failed to compete with modern Western treatment, medicine, surgery etc. in the hospitals, clinics etc. But we should remember that Āyurvedic treatment is without anti-biotic elements and is free of any side effects. And generally poor people or persons with low income in rural areas avail the same till now.

This thesis is a comparative study of diseases and the remedies as found in the Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā. As a student of Sanskrit literature and language I selected this topic of the study and with the active guidance of my supervisor I carried out this work for last five years.

While carrying out this work I depended mainly on primary sources, as well as on authentic secondary sources. Moreover, the erudition of my Ph.D. guide has made this work possible. The present study basically aims at giving a comprehensive account of the diseases and the remedies as found in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā, the oldest scriptures found in India to highlight the advancement of medical science in India dating back to around 1200 B.C to 1000 B.C and 2nd century CE respectively. As the study will progress with all the relevant references, it can also be hoped that a very much thought-provoking and surprising contrast will emerge between what we call the ancient age and the modern age in the context of the ancient knowledge of diseases and medicines in India. I hope this work shall fill the research gap.

I express my heart-felt gratitude to Dr. Ram Pramol Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit of Visva Bharati. My supervisor of this research work, under his active guidance and meticulous direction, I carried out this research work, and without his intellectual and moral support this work could not have been a reality.

(Laxmi Maji)

Research Scholar