Indian Journal of History of Science, 53.1 (2018) 117-121 DOI: 10.16943/ijhs/2018/v53i1/49369

Book Review

Āyurvedic Inheritance — A Reader’s Companion by M S Valiathãn, Manipal University Press, Manipal, 2017, ISBN 978-93-82460-58-9, Pages 232 (Hardback), Rs 650.

Anantanarayanan Raman*

From the desk of a highly respected cardio- that sway the health of humans similar to the thoracic surgeon and a higher-education leader of perturbations that would occur in the Earth due to , Marthandavarma Sankaran Valiathan either natural or induced causes. Āyurveda, a (MSV), another book on the science and art of discipline that evolved among Nature- Āyurveda has appeared. He wrote on Caraka in worshipping Indians, therefore confides in 2003, followed by volumes on Śuśruta in 2007 managing alterations via natural means, which and Vāgabhaā in 2010, followed by the could be anything from regulated breathing Introduction to Āyurveda in 2012, all of which exercises (pranāyāma) to administration of are being intently consulted by everyone interested defined doses of natural materials, such as mercury in Indian traditional-medical heritage. Āyurveda (Hg, rasa) and arsenic (As, kunai, naipāli) and (literally translating into the veda [the book of , such as Calotropis gigantea, Apocynaceae knowledge, deriving from vidyé] of life [āyu]) (arkā) and ferox, evolved through recording observations and (vatsanābha). experiential learning in the Indian subcontinent, millennia ago. A popular Āyurvedic physician of The theory of humorolism (also referred the erstwhile Madras, V Narayanaswamy, speaks as humorism, estimated at at least 2000 years of of the ancientness of Āyurveda by referring to its human knowledge) explains that human body roots in Atharva Veda, but does not specify a date functions well because of the balanced action of (Narayanaswamy, 1981). Indian mythology humors: the black and yellow biles, phlegm, and associates Danvantari, the divine master of blood. However, a near-identical theory, but medicine, as the creator of Āyurveda. In principle, pitched on three humors only, viz., wind, bile, and Āyurveda explores human wellness in the context phlegm, forms the bedrock of Āyurveda. of immortality (read as longevity) by building on Āyurvedic worldview reinforces that a balance sound health. We need to recognize here that among the three humors enables attainment and Mga-Āyurveda dealing with the wellness of maintenance of sound human health. Illnesses animals and Vka-Āyurveda dealing with the manifest because of either excesses of or wellness of plants too are available (Kaushik et deficiencies in one or more humors. Humorolism al. 2016). The key underpinning element of ruled Western-medical thinking until the 17th Āyurveda is holism. Āyurveda perceives humans century. Greater understanding of human anatomy similar to Mother Earth and sees the alterations and chemistry, say, from the late 16th century

*Charles Sturt University, PO Box 883, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia, Email: [email protected] 118 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE

(Mitchell et al., 2011), buttressed by Francis that stories, metaphors, and similes in classes, help Bacon’s arguments of inductive reasoning in communicating the intents and interest of marshalled in Novum Organum of 1620 CE students. It is enjoyable the way MSV has driven (Devey, 1902) gradually changed the focus of this chapter by embedding detailed notes on the western-medical thinking and its underpinning archaeological findings made in the civilization philosophy (Magner, 2002), by emphasizing that flourished in the Indus Valley (3300-1900 biological fitness – survival and procreation – as BCE), thus delineating the understanding of the sole purpose of human life (Lennox, 1995). ‘sanitation and public health’. MSV argues in these Improvement of chances of human survival and pages whether Āyurveda is a veda of independent the ability to reproduce as successfully as possible standing or an upa-veda of Atharva Veda. With became the focal themes of western-medical profound authority, he illustrates Caraka’s medical thinking, leaning gradually towards reductionism. brilliance in the management and treatment of This thinking influenced the divergence and jaundice (kāmalā). This illustration highlights a cleavage of philosophical directions of Western- clear shift from faith-based healing (daiva- medical practice drastically from the Eastern- vyapāśraya cikitsā) to reason-based healing (yukti- medical practice (Āyurveda). Relief of pain vyapāśraya cikitsā). At this point, MSV reiterates (pathos, παθος, means ‘suffering’, ‘sadness how Buddhistic philosophy influenced Caraka’s inducing’) got on to the centre-stage in the post- thinking in designing and developing healing 18th century western-medical practice, thus measures by negating the Atharva-Veda-based shifting towards reductionism, whereas Āyurveda daiva-vyapāśraya and by validating the Buddhist- maintained its commitment to holism. thinking based yukti-vyapāśraya. I could feel the vibration of logic (nyāya, see Chandra, 1913) here. It may be guessed that MSV, at some stage Enchanting. of his life, was impressed and influenced by the holistic paradigm of Āyurveda as against the It is to be admitted, how the tradition and reductionistic paradigm of modern western- faith did have a profound influence on this healing medical practice. This transformation becomes art of India. The captivating interventions made apparent when we think of his training in western by MSV, such as the above, generate a sense of medical practice in the best cardio-thoracic gratification in a science-biased reader, such as hospitals of the world and his contributions to myself, that after all, Āyurveda includes not only pioneering heart research institute and hospital mythic elements and esotericism, but also developed on western medical philosophy in sophisticated and rational thinking. The latter Trivandrum rising to the leadership of Manipal enabled Āyurveda to shape itself as a science with University. the passage of time. One of the intense dimensions of Āyurveda, as we understand it today, from the I am basically an amatelor historian of practices we see around, is the intricate science in India, not a medical practitioner. The intertwining of this healing art on the one hand present commentary however will reflect the and faith in divinity (Kessler et al. 2013) and in beauty and interest in the book uncompromisingly. astrology (Dwivedi, 2013) on the other. Such a Chapter 1 (pages 1-11) of MSV’s faith does not evoke an iota of surprise, since Āyurvedic Inheritance, A Reader’s Companion Āyurveda has arisen as a discipline fully accepting begins with a breezy context with a few stories on the superiority of Nature [seen as ‘God’] (Raman, the genesis of Āyurveda. Stories fascinate every 2002; Coward, 2003). Āyurveda’s ancient practice one, a child or an adult. It is worth mentioning daiva-vyapāśraya cikitsā includes manidārānā BOOK REVIEW 119 and chanting mantra-s in appeasement of natural the remarkable, multi-volume publication Hortus forces, recognized in the Indian heritage as the Malabaricus, referring to the plants of Malabar pa–ca mahābhuta-s: the sky, water, fire, air, and and their medicinal relevance, taking substantial earth and perceived as the divine forms, Indrā, help from the local physician Itty Achutan. At this Varua, Agni, Vāyu, and Bhū Devī, respectively. point, it is but appropriate to pay our homage to In this context, the delightful verses of Bhū Sukta the untiring efforts of Kattungal Subramaian (Paippalada version of Atharva Veda, http:// Manilal (2003), a Calicut botanist, who rendered greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/bhoomi- van Rheede’s Hortus Malabaricus in English and bhoomi_sukta.php). Verse 2 of Bhū Sukta, cited included the current names of the plants referred below reverberating the thought is worth to in Hortus Malabaricus. MVS also refers to Ram mentioning: Nath Chopra, whose monumental volume, vlack/ka c/;rks ekuokuka ;L;k mn~or% izor% lea cgqA Indigenous Drugs of India: Their Medical and ukukoh;kZ vks”k/kh;kZ fcHkfrZ i`fFkoh u% izFkrka jk/;rka u%AA Economic Aspects, published in 1933, and his other contributions, which revolutionized Indian [Salutations to Mother Earth, who extends phytochemical and pharmacognistic research. unlimited freedom from within and without to humans via mountains and plains, and through In the concluding chapter, which MSV plants of varied potencies; may She extend Her enchantingly calls ‘Musings on Āyurveda’, riches to us and make us healthy.] delicately dilates on the value attributed to The 18 verses of this sukta gently tell us recognizing Nature — referred as the prakti by of our integral position in the great Earth, which, Suśruta — as the one key regulating factor of the Indian thinking portrays as the most benevolent Āyurveda. Prakti in Āyurvedic epistemology has mother — Bhū Devī — who offers us everything been beautifully explained as a collective term for we need, in the most unhesitating and plentiful svabhāva (innate disposition), Iśvara manner. (providence), kāla (time), yadaccha (chance), Chapters 2-16 (pages 15-202) refer to niyati (destiny), and parināma (evolution) as one various dimensions of the evolution and practice among the six spokes of on the philosophy of of Āyurveda, some briefly and others lengthily. Caraka along with the details are expounded in Chapter 10 (Medical treatment of diseases, pages Chapter 4 under the title ‘Philosophical ideas in 122-130) speaks on the different hospital-like Āyurveda’. MSV derives from Caraka’s facilities as followed in Āyurvedic practice. explanation that human body is constructed with Chapter 12 (Surgical treatment of diseases, pages the pa–ca mahābhutā-s. The explanation is that 141-160) speaks eloquently on basic surgical at the time when the universe did not exist, the procedures, bandages, surgical instruments (blunt, gua-s (sattva, rajasa, and tamasa) existed as sharp, and tubular, for example), and those latent, undifferentiated, and primeval forms. With specifically used in venesection. Chapter 16 (pages a sudden and obscure trepidation, distinct changes 197-202) is all the more interesting. The intricately such as avyakta (formlessness), buddhi intertwined exploration of plants and its influence (intelligence), and ahankāra (arrogance) evolved, on the evolution of medicine in India has been heralding diversification in the universe. Building gracefully recounted by MSV. He speaks on this further on Caraka, MSV declares that in Āyurvedic aspect referring to Garcia da Orta (1502-1568), epistemology, humans are an integral component the Portuguese physician, who practiced in Goa, of the most supreme Nature. That Nature is and Hendrik van Rheede (1636-1691), the Dutch sovereign and powerful, in a sense even Governor of Cochin (Malabar), who brought out synonymous with what we generically refer to as 120 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE

God. Human existence is an interchange between determining the level of imbalance in his/her action (eating, breathing) and Nature’s patients and choosing the drugs that will have the components (grains, air). This interchange is properties exactly opposed to those characterizing enabled by the catalytic action of consciousness the imbalance and (b) in the cleverness of (cetana). A powerful message that it is cetana that justifiably determining the patient’s strength vis- breathes ‘life’ in humans through the interchange à-vis the prevailing climate. The explanation that between action and Nature’s components as per a slip-up in any of these by the handling physician Caraka’s worldview. Otherwise, the human body would result in intense damage and even in death and its parts would senselessly and aimlessly of the patient. MSV’s following remark is a function similar to a robot. MSV elaborates on punchline (p. 213): Caraka’s comment that the even less-evolved ‘Āyurveda held that medical treatment which cures animals seek plants naturally, when sick. The or palliates a disease but, at the same time, gives wonder of wonders is how do they know of and rise to another disease sooner or later is not genuine recognize those plants that they could chew to or authentic. As the adverse drug reactions could realize a cure? Abraham Cressy Morrison’s Seven be harmful or dangerous, it is incumbent on the Reasons Why a Scientist believes in God (1962), physician to exercise extreme care in choosing appropriate drugs and planning the specific which I read, years ago, quotes an oft-seen treatment for each patient so that adverse reactions example, domestic dog (Canis familiaris) chewing to the drug may not turn to another disease.’ the leaf blades of Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae, Moreover, the above remark alerts that Durva), which is today scientifically demonstrated yurvedic physician training was thorough in a as a genetically programmed (?) effort of curing Ā sense that the ‘physician-to-be’ needs to be alert gastro-intestinal disorders (Mckenzie et al., 2010). Speaking on the eternity of this medical practice, and careful in judging the disease (or illness) MSV clarifies: ‘health and disease, happiness and correctly and selecting the most-suitable drug, misery, substances and their properties are no more which will cure the patient with the least, adverse than the products of the evolutionary cycle, which reactions. These words reminded me of the current are eternal. Āyurveda did not arise out of nothing, approaches in epidemiology and strains of but represented a channel in the eternal flow of immunology and serology that enable the nature’ (p. 206). Absolutely fascinating. detection of many a common infective disease (e.g., tuberculosis) further to complex metabolic MSV explains the relevance of Āyurveda setbacks (say, various cancers). The last two-three as seen through the lens of Western medical pages of this section deal with the vitality and science. In pages 210–214, he explains the vibrancy of teaching done to the physicians-in- relevance under the sub-themes: ‘Consciousness training. and the foetus’, ‘Epidemics as an equaliser’, ‘Righteous conduct in preventive medicine’, The glorious fullness of Nature and the ‘Control of sense organs’, ‘Adverse drug subsumed oneness of Homo sapiens within that reactions’, and ‘A difficult surgical decision’, giant wholesomeness is driven by the most which offer interesting reading, since a well- spectacular and all-powerful Helios (Apollo, reasoned effort becomes apparent in these pages. Āditya), The primer Āyurvedic Inheritance, A For example, MSV’s comments that drugs Reader’s Companion by Marthadavarma Sankaran (medications) are similar to nectar, but when Valiathan is engaging and a source book of great administered in excess that nectar turns poisonous; enlightenment. I am sure others would equally the physician’s skill lies (a) in detecting and benefit reading this Valiathan volume. BOOK REVIEW 121

‘Je sens des extases, des ravissements Kessler, C; Wischnewsky, M; Michalsen, A; Eisenmann, C inexprimables à me fondre pour ainsi dire dans le and Melzer, J. Ayurveda: between religion, spirituality, système des êtres, à m’identifier avec la nature and medicine, Evidence-based Complementary and entire.’ Alternative Medicine, 2013, http://doi.org/10.1155/ 2013/ 952432. [I feel an indescribable ecstasy and delirium in melting, as it were, into the system of being, in Lennox, J G. Health as an objective value, Philosophy of identifying myself with the whole of nature.] Medicine, 20 (1995): 499-511. – Jean Jacques Rousseau Magner, L. A History of the Life Sciences, Marcel Dekker, New York, 2002, p. 520. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Manilal, K S. van Rheede’s Hortus Malabaricus, 12 The reviewer is grateful to Sanjay Pai Volumes, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, 2003. (Consulting Pathologist, Columbia-Asia Referral Mckenzie, S; Brown, W and Price, I. Reduction in grass Hospital, Bangalore) for his incisive remarks on eating behaviours in the domestic dog, Canis the draft of this review. familiaris, in response to a mild gastrointestinal disturbance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 123 BIBLIOGRAPHY (2010): 51-55. Chandra, S. The Nyāya Sūtras of Gotama, The Pānini Office, Mitchell, P D; Boston, C; Chamberlain, A T; Chaplin, S; Bhuvane wari A rama, Bahadurganj, Illahabad, 1913, ś ś Chauhan, V; Evans, J; Fowler, L; Powers, N; Walker, p. 175. D; Webb, H and Witkin, A. The study of anatomy in Coward H. Hindu views of nature and the environment. In: England from 1700 to the early 20th century. Journal Selin H. (ed.) Nature across Cultures. Science across of Anatomy, 219 (2011): 91-99. Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science, 4 Morrison, C A. Seven Reasons Why a Scientist believes in (2003), 411-419, Springer, Dordrecht. God, Fleming H. Revell & Company, Westwood, New Devey, J. (Editor), Novum Organum by Lord Bacon, P.F. Jersey, 1962, p. 76. Collier & Sons, New York, 1902, p. 290. Narayanaswamy, V. Origin and development of Āyurveda Dwivedi, J N. Interrelationship of Ayurveda and astrology, (a brief history), Ancient Science of Life, 1 (1981): 1- Ayu, 34 (2013): 26-35. 7. Kaushik, R; Jain, J and Rai, P. Therapeutic potentials of Raman, A. Review of ‘ and ecology’ by cow derived products- a review, International Journal Christopher Chapple and Mary Evelyn Tucker, of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 7 (2016): International Journal of Ecology and Environmental 1383-1390. Sciences, 28 (2002): 147-150.