Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV p.p 100 to 110 MEDICAL SCIENCE IN ANCIENT INDIAN CULTURE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ATHARVA VEDA A. NARAYANA * ABSTRACT A high quality of Medical Knowledge was prevalent in ancient India. The present day Archaeological evidences of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa imparts the high civilization in matters of sanitation and hygiene. An analysis of the material in the Vedas reveals that, all the four Vedas replete the references regarding various aspects of medicine. The Atharva Veda is deemed to be an encyclopaedia for medicine "Interalia". and Ayurveda (the science of life) is considered as Upa Veda (supplemen- tary subject) of the Atharva Veda. A few glimpses of medical Science as prevalent in the ancient India have been presented here. The ancient India was the birth 7th Century B.C, but, historical facts place of many great sciences. It are found to be definite only after attracted the attention of the entire the 5th Century B.C. The History of ancient world and streams of in- Science and Technology in India as quisitive men travelled long dis- per the present day Archaeological tances to come to India to learn. evidences, begins with the Indus Ayurveda, the Science of life was Valley Civilization. This period is one of the sciences, which earned usually called the pre-vedic period. great fame for India and which influ- The excavations at Harappa and enced considerably the knowledge Mohenjo-daro bear ample evidences of medicine of other ancient nations to the proficiency reached by the of the world also. people of the Indus Valley Civiliza- Though the dawn of historical tion in matters of sanitation and hygiene. period in India is counted from the Both Harappa and Mohenjo-daro • Research officer (Ay.). Indian Institute of History of Medicine, O.M.C. bldgs., Putlibowli, Hyderabad - 500195. (India). Medical science in Ancient Indian Culture - Narayana 101 appear to have been built according evolution. to a carefu1 plan. There were baths, The Vedas lavatories, d ra ins, fresh-water ta nks, court yards and bed rooms etc. The The earliest sources of our kno- main drains could be cleared by wledge of Indian Philosophy and lifting large, specially made brick medicine are the four Vedas, the manhole covers. The whole concept sacred books of Knowledge belong- of town planning shows a remark- ing to the period of 1500 to 800 able concern for sanitation and pub- B.C.3 Ayurveda is considered to be lic health which was perhaps with- the Upa-veda orsupplementarysubjecl out parallel in those days, soakage of the Atharva Veda. An analysis of pits took the eventual sewaqe .' the material in the Vedas reveals Excavations of these sites have that all the four Vedas are replete brought to light several therapeutic with references to various aspects substances like Shilajit, remedies of medicine. The Gods like Rudra, for Diabetes and Rheumatism etc. Agni, Varuna, Indra and Maruthi Impressions of skulls. on which cra- were designated as the Celestial nial surgery had been performed physicians at that time. were also excavated from these The medical lore contained in the sites. These thinqs inparts the high Atharva Veda is not inconsiderable. quality of the medical science that Therethey appear among seven hundred was prevalent in those days". thirty one hymns, charms and in- Ayurveda, the Indian Medical cantations. The Atharva Veda VIII, System is one of the great develop- 7, appears as a charm bestowing ments in the Vedic period followed longevity; the devini-ties to whom it by centuries of slow 'and cautious is addressed are the herbs men- 1. Pre Historic India, Plggott.S., P.No. 168. 2. Fundamentals of Ayurveda Medicine, Bhagwandas (1984) Bansal & cor, K/16, Naveenshahadra, Delhi 32, P-8 3. Science and Philosophy of Indian medicine, Udupa K. N., eta I (1978) P.No.11. 102 Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV tioned in the hymn", explains that lotus with nine gates. The compari- the hymn is used in a remedial rite son of the heart to a lotus, In I: 17:3 against consumption (Yakshma) and described all other diseases. "Thou sira of the lower part, re- Thus, at the time of Atharva Veda mains, there were physicians and an elabo- thou of the upper part remains; rate pharmacopoeia for treating the diseases. The praise of the Atharwan so thou of the middle part, as the physician par excellence, sothou small, sothou big Dhamani," superior to all medicines prescribed With regard to this verse.Dasqupta, by other physicians, implies the says" a knowledge of the distinction existance of two systems of Medi- between Veins and arteries, in the cine side by side. modern sense of the terms, was 1. The system of charms prescribed known at that time". The division of by the Atharwan (priest physi- Dhamanis, Siras and Snayus seems cian) to have been based on their relative 2. The system of drugs prescribed fineness, the thicker canals were by ordinary medical practitioners. called Dhamanis, the finer ones were The Panchagavyas (Five prod- called Siras, and the still finer ones ucts of the Cow), Honey and fats as Snayus.1 a suitable vehicle (Anupana) forthe The flow of certain fluids in the remedies. body, described in X:2:11, In X:2:1-33, a hymn entitled "the "Who stored in him floods mov- wonderful structures of man", in which ing in all diverse directions and formed the several parts of the Skeleton are to flow in rivers pink, rosy red, and carefully enumarated. In 11.33 al- coppery dark running in all ways in most all the important organs of the a man, upward and downward . body are enumarated. The intimate relation between the In X:8:43, a reference is made to heart and the brain seems to have 1. A History of Indian Philosophy, Vol.Il, Dasgupta S. N., (1932) P. No. 289. Medical science in Ancient Indian Culture - Narayana 103 been dimly apprehended. Atharva Vyadhis (diseases produced by Veda 1:12:3 mentions five classess bacteria, worms, insects) and treat- of diseases. ment for different bacteria mani- 1. Atharvanic people recognised a fested diseases were explained. threefold classification of all dis- XIII:1 :32 hymn reveals that ":rhe eases those produced by wind, rising Sun is prayed to destroy the by water and fire later develop- infective organisms". ments in Ayurveda, considered the threefold classification of all This connotes the ultra violet diseases as to the three Doshas rays present in the Sunlight was Viz: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. known to Atharvanic people. Here, 2. Diseases produced by possess- it is stated that pathogenic bacteria ion by demons and evil spirits. live mostly during darkness and die 3. Diseases due to Worms. during sunrise. 4. Diseases due to Sorcery (the use Atharva Veda stated herbal rem- of magic powers derived from edies like Ajashringi (IV: 32:2) evil spirits). Prishni parni (11:25:2), Apamarga 5. Kshetraja (heriditary) diseases. (IV:18:8) etc. as anti-bacterial and Krimi (organisms) were explained Shankha (IV:10:3), prathisar(VIII:5:8) in detail in the Vedas. In Atharva etc. Manidharana as preventive (pro- Veda 11:31:2, the organisms were tection from bacteria). classified into Dris-hya (Macro) and There is abandant literature av- Adrishya (Micro), which were in water, ailable for the eatiology, diagnosis, earth, sky, houses. Mainly Atharva diferential diagnosis, complications, Veda 1:28:4 to XIX:66:1, about 98 management ofTakma(Fever). varities of Krimis and Krimi janya 104 Bull. Ind. Ins!. His!. Med. Vol. XXV Synonyms And Varieties Of Jwara (Fever ) 1. Abhraja (1:12:3) Due to clouds (Kaphaja Jwara) 2. Vataja (1:12:3) Due to Vitiation of Vata (wind) 3. Shushma (1:12:3) Due to emaciation. 4. Parusha (V:8:5) Due to rukshatwa (dryness) in the skin. 5. Anga. (IX:8:5) In Limbs. 6. Angabhed (IX:8:5) Due to body pains. 7. Sheeta (V:22:10) Due to cold. 8. Roor (V:22:1 0) Due to Paittik (Bile). 9. Trithiyak (V:22: 13) Fever manifested on 3rd day. 10. Vitrithiyak (V:22:13) Fever manifested on 4th day. 11. Sadandi (V:22:13) Continuous. 12. Sharad(V:22: 13) Due to specific effects of autumn season. 13. Varshik (V:22:13) Due to specific effects of rainy sea- son. 14. Grishma (V:22: 13) Due to specific effects of summer season. 15. Vishwa Sharad (lX:8:6) Spreading type diseases (Malaria due to specific effects of Autumn season. 16. Aruna (VI:20:3) Feverwith red coloured pustules i.e. Masurika (small pox). 17. Babhru (VI:20:3) Yellow fever. 18. Vanya (VI:20:3) Due to forestry. 19. Chyavan (VII:116:1) Feverwith over sweating. 20. Nodan (VII:116:1) Intermittant. 21. Avritha (VII:116:2) Vishamajwar (Typhoid) 22. Ghrishnu (VII:116:1) Due to injuries or hurt. 23. Hayan (XIX:39:10) Due to indigesation of Vreehi (a kind of rice). Medical science in Ancient Indian Culture - Narayana 105 Complications of Fever Causes 1. Shirovedana (1:12:2) 1. The disease is communicable from diseased persons to others 2. Shleshma (V:22:2) through roga Jeevanu (Tuberculus 3. Kasa (V:22:3) bacillus). 4. Hikka (V:22:10) 2. Loss of Semen, due to exces- 5. Kshaya (V:22: 11) sive sexual intercourse. 6. Kamala (V:22:12) Varities 7. Twak Kathinyata (VI:30:3) 1. Akshath - Without any ulcer- ation in phupphusa (Lungs). Management 2. Sukshath - Ulceration in 1. Jangidi herb (XIX:34: 10) - Pres- phupphusa (Lungs). ently the species is extinct. Complications 2. Kushtha (V:4:1 )Saussurea lappa.