some thoughts on hindu medicine — an address by kavirāj ... · some thoughts on hindu medicine...

Some Thoughts on Hindu Medicine — An Address byKavirāj Mahāmahopadhyāya Gananath Sen*

N C Shah**

(Received 18 July 2017)

Abstract

Kaviraj Gananth Sen earned great reputation for his publication of Pratyaka Śarīra, Siddhānta-Nidāna, Ayurveda Parīcaya and as a founder of Viswanath Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya which later renamedas Gananath Sen Institute of Ayurveda and Research in Calcutta. His address at BHU deals with theadvances made in Ayurveda about hundred years ago, the knowledge of treating plants under Vka-Āyurveda, the form of Materia medica and Pharmacy and the chemistry of Makaradhvaja used as stimulantand vitalizer. The Ayurvedists knew that there are certain diseases and ailments caused by ‘microorganisms’and the knowledge of midwifery, and of compounds, which cured sexual debility under the name ofVaiavī śakti. The progress made in surgery and the instruments used were also taken into account.Finally, it dealt with the charges against the status of Ayurveda in the country about hundred years agoand action to be taken for its reform as a word of appeal to the people.

Key words: Adoption of foreign drugs, Bower manuscript, Caraka, Materia medica, Pharmacy,Sexual debility, Status of surgery, Surgery, Suśurta, Vāgbhaa, Vaiavi śakti, Vāyu-kapha-pitta, Vka -Āyurveda, William Harvey.

* The present communication is solely an address presented by Kavirāj Mahāmahopadhyāya Gananath Sen, an eminent Ayurvedicscholar of the past on the occasion of the foundation day of Benaras Hindu University,Varanasi on 7th February,1916. Only a fewcopies of the Address were distributed during the inauguration. This address is of historical, scientific and of academic interest,therefore, it is being re-published after 100 years for the benefit of the ardent students and followers of science and Ayurveda.

**Founder ex-Director Harbal Research & Development Institute, Goverment of UP, Gopeshwar (now in Uttarakhand) and Headof Department Botany & Pharmacognosy, CIMAP (CSIR), Lucknow. Postal address:MS-78, Sector D, Aliganj, Lucknow -226024, E.mail: [email protected]

1. INTRODUCTION

The history of any nation is known fromthe history of their rulers or kings or monarchssimilarly, the history of medicine of any nation isknown from the physicians of that period. Anaddress on “Hindu Medicine” was delivered byMahāmahopadhyāya Gananath Sen, Vidyanidhi,Saraswati, MA, LMS on 7th February, 1916 inconjunction with the foundation ceremony ofBenaras Hindu University, Varanasi. There werepresent about scores of prominent mahārājās andrājās of then Indian States, who had hadgenerously contributed for building of HinduUniversity to Shri Madan Mohan Malviya. In this

function not only the mahārājās and rājās werepresent but the viceroy of India Lord Hardingewas also present. The ceremony was presided byHis Highness the Mahārājā of Jhalawar(Rajasthan). [Photographs of these personalitiesmay be seen at the Appendix.]

2. THE ADDRESS

“Your highnesses, ladies and gentlemen,in this glorious effulgence of the dawn of theHindu University, I have the honour and privilegeaddressing you on “Hindu Medicine”. It is asubject in which every true Hindu of Hindusthanand every sincere seeker of India’s welfare must

Indian Journal of History of Science, 52.4 (2017) 445-462 DOI: 10.16943/ijhs/2017/v52i4/49266

Historical Notes

446 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE

feel strongly interested. Considering the many andvaried problems of the regeneration of this greatbranch of life-saving study that must be facedboldly, I felt no small diffidence in my powers todo justice to the task in all its bearings on anoccasion like the present one.

Nevertheless, I thought it my duty torespond to this trumpet-call of Pandit MadanMohan Malaviyaji unfalteringly, lest I should bedeemed and ungrateful servant by those who hadthe goodness to employ me in the past to officesof trust in connection with the All-India AyurvedicConference and its offspring-the All-India Boardof Ayurvedic Education.

So, earnestly craving your indulgence, Iam here to appeal to your justice to give Ayurvedaits share of consideration in the great work ofRenaissance set upon you by a kind Providenceand a benign Government. I thank you heartilyfor giving me this opportunity”

The Goal in View: “To us-Indians, Ancient Indiais an expression fraught with a world ofsuggestions. The ring of sweet music associatedwith those words brings before our mind’s eyeinnumerable good things of old, the existence ofwhich cannot be doubted. Looking through thedim vistas of the great past, so far as extantliterature an enlighten us, we find an endless massof ruins-glowing truths and debris of truths theroofless pillars of that great superstructure, whichonce shone high in the horizon and dazzled theadmiring eyes of the world by its lustrous glory.With such a conviction as this, I believe the HinduUniversity has been started. And the realizationof the great ideal, we all hope and trust, is not fordistant as we have taken the vow not merely tolament the bygones but diligently to dig up thediamond-fields which were there and are yet therethough covered with ruins. We mean to employthe lever of our western education to turn overthose ruins. We shall not cease in our efforts tillwe get back our treasures and leave them toposterity re-polished and replenished for thebenefit of the whole world.”

The Claims & Ideals of Hindu Medicine:“Fortunately for the populace of India, HinduMedicine (or Ayurveda as it is technically called)has lived a useful and life-giving life even underthe weight of ruins. It still fights its humane battlesfor millions of suffering humanity in this land ofits birth. It not only saves many times more peopleof India than all other systems of Medicinecombined, but often conquers by striking curesmany foreign rivals who, by the way, are only itsown alienated offspring’s. It has lived yet, andoutlived crushing influences in the past. Providedits claims are fully recognized by the State andpeople, it will live a good deal more in the presentsunshiny days of peace and prosperity. This, Ibelieve, is not a very bold prophecy to make.”

“Save Humanity” – has ever been thewatch-word of Hindu Medicine – “Save Humanityregardless of earthly gain.” The great Carakaenjoined –

^^ukRekFkZa ukfi dkekFkZe~U; Hkwrn;ka izfrAorZrs ;f'pfdRlk;ka l loZefr oÙkZrsAA

dqoZrs is rq oÙR;FkZ fpfdaRlk; jk; fcØ;e~Ars fgRok dkUpua jkf'k ika'kqj kf'kHkqiklrsAA**

“Not for self, not for the fulfillment ofany earthly desire of gain, but solely forthe good of suffering humanity, shouldyou treat your patients and so excel all.Those who sell the treatment of diseasesas merchandise gather the dust andneglect the gold.”

Service to Humanity: “Nobel sentiments to befound only perhaps in Hindu Medicine! And theseare sentiments which not only read fine in booksbut are to a large extent yet followed by everypractitioner of Hindu Medicine who treats so manyof his poverty-stricken fellow beings gratis inevery village of India, Charging nothing forattendance or medicines and often helping themwith money to purchase their diet. Such ennoblingsight all around is to be found only in India, wherethe house of every Ayurvedic practitioner is aminiature charitable dispensary. Such charities arenot the matter-of-fact charity of a large endowed

HISTORICAL NOTE: SOME THOUGHTS ON HINDU MEDICINE BY GANANATH SEN 447

hospital but a charity enjoined by the teachingitself. Whilst fully appreciating the great servicesdone by hospitals in these days, I venture to assertthat Ayurvedic physicians do more service to thepeople in any town or village by their privatemedical charities than many hospitals, so far ofcourse as medical (not surgical) treatment isconcerned. Do not these heroes and their Almamater – the Ayurvedic School of Medicine deservewell of the State and the people?”

What Ayurveda has given ?: “Ayurveda” is the“Science of Life” or the great world science ofMedicine, which has for its object not only theprotection of human life but also of the life ofanimals, even of plants. Hindu Medicine is but apoor expression to imply Ayurveda, Ayurveda isnot only Medicine but Medicine Surgery,Midwifery, Ophthalmology, Treatment of mentaldiseases etc. So great indeed was the progressmade in Ayurveda that the eight different sectionsof this great Science and Art had, at one time,schools of different specialists with massivelibraries of differentiated literature to back them.I do not propose to go into the details here but Imay mention in passing that the very surgicalinstruments and the many surgical operationswhich Western surgery boasts of to-day weremostly devised by the Hindu Surgeons.”

“Veterinary Science, too, in its differentsections developed considerably as a branch ofAyurveda. The care and treatment of horses wasdealt with the Śalihorta Sahitā, of cattle byGautama Sahitā, of elephants by the great workPlakāpya Sahitā – all of which still survive andthe last of which has been published in Poona.Such then was the scope of Ayurveda- and suchsaving of life its object and meaning. Could thisall be quackery as our opponents dub it?”

A Brief Historical Survey: “Modern histories ofIndia – as I have said in the English introductionof my Sanskrit Text-Book on Anatomy Pratyaka-śariram- begin where the true history of AncientIndia ends. The birth of Buddha or the reign of

Aśoka the Great marks not the beginning but theend of India’s past glory. A true history of the greatachievements of the sons of India before that epochis yet to be written. It was during that periodextending over hundreds of years that the MedicalScience as well as many other branches of scienceand literature made great progress and shed theirluster on distant climes like Egypt, Greece, Romeand Arabia. Historians of antiquity have shownby no slender evidence that the colonization ofEgypt by Indians took place during these pre-historic times. The name Miśra Deśa (a mixture)applied to Egypt and the costume and customs ofthe old Egyptians lead one to the same conclusion.Mr. Pocock in his valuable work “India in Greece”has shown by irresistible internal evidences thatGreece owed her original civilization to India-hervery mythology and old names were from Sanskritliterature. The civilization of Rome was a productof later age and both Greece and Rome owed agreat deal to the Buddhist preachers, sent out byAśoka and other Buddhist princes. The dress andmanners of ancient Rome closely resembled thoseof ancient India. Arabian civilization came muchlater and Arab historians like Al-Beruniacknowledge in plain terms the great intellectualdebt they owed to India.”

“But while Egypt survives only in hermummies and pyramids, the ancient glories ofGreece and Rome have been nearly effaced underinternal dissentions and barbarian invasions. It theother half of Europe, now the great nation-buildersand educators of the world, had not come to theirrescue, old Greece and Rome would have beennow nearly forgotten. But a great part of theancient glory of India still survives-notwithstanding greater crushing influence in thepast, in the modest hamlets of the simple Pundits.Hindu Medicine still holds its own to no meanextent against all foreign rivals. Intrinsic meritbased on solid clinical foundations can not bedenied by thoughtful men to such an exponent ofancient glory, whatever its shortcomings at thepresent day.”


The Invasion of Greeks, Scythians, and Huns:“Ever since the invasions by the Greeks (327 BCE)India had so many vicissitudes of fortune that onewho arrays the facts of history before the mind’seye can hardly wonder how so much of the pastglory was lost. The real wonder is how so muchhas yet survived. After the great invasion ofAlexander came the devastating hordes of theScythians and after them the locust armies of theHuns, all of whom continued bloody warfare andpillage for hundreds of years. History bristles withthe accounts of the horrors perpetuated by thesebarbarians. No doubt, much of the treasure ofIndian literature was lost during these dark agesof pillage and incendiarism.

wholly escape their depredations. Every few ofthe limited number of written manuscripts, alreadytinned in bulk by the previous invader’s atrocities,could have survived such tremendous shocks. Afeeble revival came again during thecomparatively peaceful reigns of Akbar, Jahangirand Shajahan all of whom were lovers of Sanskritliterature.”

Fig. 2. An imaginary painting of Vikramaditya known asYasodharmadeva Vikramaditya, surnamed Shakari or themighty destroyer of the Scythians and Hunas (5th Century?CE)

Fig. 3. Akbar the Great (1542-1605) during his period afeeble revival of Hindu medicine came. He had had also aHindu physician in his court along with a Hakim

“But with Aurungzeb followed anotherreign of terror and Hindu-hatred and after him aperiod of rapine and anarchy which made thecultivation of science practically impossible. Now,

Fig. 1. Alexander the Great who invaded India in 327 BCE.He was much interested in the Hindu medicine mainly incuring snake-bites. It is said that he took along with himsome Hindu physicians.

Even during the great revival which beganwith the reign of Yasodharmadeva Vikramaditya,surnamed Shakari or the mighty destroyer of theScythians and Huns (5th Century? CE), only a partof the lost glory could be recouped by theintellectual luminaries of the period.

But the worst came when since the adventof India’s arch-enemy Mahmud of Ghazni (11th

Century CE), the upper half of India was overrunand cruelly sacked, times without number, by thesavage Saracens. Towns and villages were burntand looted and kingdoms crumbled to pieces.Eventually, even the Deccan and Bengal did not


if the great libraries and universities of Belgiumcould not withstand the ravages and incendiarismof the twentieth century warfare, was it possiblethat the meek unprotected hamlets of the Punditscould save their literature from the Scythians andHuns and a Ghazni and a Ghori, Chengiz Khanand a Nadir Shah, carrying havoc with torch andsword?”

“Yes, if the destroyers of India came fromclose quarters, the rescuers of India came fromfar away, The greatest renaissance has come atlast-now that under the benign peaceful rule andkind encouragements of our kind-hearted andenlightened Government, great researches in Indialiterature mark the mighty awakening of Indiafrom her long slumber”. (Pratyaka-Śariram-Introduction).

The Lost Literature: “Great and permanent wasthe loss suffered by Ayurveda as in fact every otherbranch of Science and literature during the eviltimes that befell India. Numerous original worksof the master minds quoted in the extant worksand commentaries are now not available. Of theschool of physicians headed by the sage Atreya,not only the six great works or Sahitās writtenby his six pupils-Agniveśa, Bhela, Jatukara,Parāsara, Hārita and Kaśarpani- but also othergreat works called- Vivamitra Sahitā, KharnadaSahita, Kapila-Tantra, Gautama-Tantra etc. areapparently lost to us. Only one of them, theAgniveśa Sahitā-thrice revised and recast-survives in skeleton and is known as the famousCaraka Sahitā. A spurious work passes forHārita Sahitā. Bhela Sahitā has been found incrippled condition in the Tanjore State Library ofthe school of Surgeons headed by the Royal masterDhanwantri, who held his great Ayurvedic Collegein this very city of Benares, almost all the mightyworks by his pupils, Suśruta, Paukalavata,Gopura-Rakita, Bhoja, Bhaluki, Karavirya,Vaitarane, etc., have passed into oblivion exceptin the numerous except in the numerous quotationsfound in the old commentaries still available. Only

one of them, the Suśruta Sahitā, as a revisedand recompiled summary of the great originalcalled Vddha Suśruta survives to tell the tale ofmutilation. The re-compiler of Suśruta drewlargely from a great work by Videha on thediseases of eye, ear, nose and throat, but this allwell as the large Sahitās on the same subject byNimi, Kakāyana, Gargya, Galava, Cakuśya,Sātyaki, Saunaka, Karala, Katreya, etc., liveonly in quotations. In diseases of children, noneof the works of Jivaka, Parvataka, Hiranayalaśa,etc., have been yet found out.”

“In Toxicology, of the great Sahitās ofKaśyapa, Alambāyaa, Uśanās, Sanaka,Latyāyaa, etc., only the first has been tracedincomplete in the Tanjore State Library by thelearned Pandit Yadavji Tricumji of Bombay. In thesections of Rasāyaa and Vājīkaraa the two greatdistinctive branches of Ayurvedic literature, thegreat works by Pata–jali, Vyādi, Vasitha,Māavya and Nāgārjuna survive only in somequotations and inscriptions. The existence of theseand other authoritative works about a thousandyears ago could be proved by unquestionable

Fig. 4. Nalanda University. Towards the Southeast of Patna,the Capital City of Bihar State in India, is a village calledthe ‘Bada Gaon’, in the vicinity of which, are the worldfamous ruins of Nalanda University exist. Founded in the5th Century CE., Nalanda, is known as the ancient seat oflearning. Here, 2,000 Teachers and 10,000 Students fromall over the Buddhist world lived and studied. It is knownas the first Residential International University of the World.


evidences, which I have quoted in the SanskritIntroduction of my work on Anatomy.”

“It may not be out of place here to observein passing, that the decline and Buddhismpractically synchronized with the decline of HinduMedicine. The chronicles of Buddhism clearlyshow that in the universities of: Nalanda andTakaśila (Taxilla), two branches of literature werestudied particularly, viz. Hetu śāstra or Logic andCikitsā śāstra or Medicine. Benevolence being thewatchword of Buddhism, there was no lack ofhospitals or medical charities both for men andanimals during the reigns of Bimbisara, Asoka andother Buddhist princes. We hear the name of thefamous physician Jivaka*-(Surnamed“Komarabhacca” or Kaumārabhtya?) inconnection with the court of Bimbisāra. Both, he

and his great teacher Bhiku Atreya are said tohave attended the great Buddha himself and hisfollowers.

Again the famous Buddhist patriarchNāgārjua is believed by many to have been thereviser and re-compiler of the present day, Suśruta.Vāgbhaa, the well-known Ayurvedic author forreputation next only to that of Caraka and Suśruta,was also a Buddhisht of Sind who lived probablyin the 5th or 6th century CE. He has left us twovaluable works, the Aāga Sagraha and theAāga Hdaya, which may be respectively calleda large Encyclopoedia and a small comprehensiveepitome of Ayurvedic literature. It appears from aclose study of these works however, that thedecline of Ayurveda had already begun in Buddhisttimes when finding the old literature perishing fast,Vāgbhaa worked hard to summarise all themedical information good, bad or indifferent thathe could then lay his hands upon. Many authorsof the famous Rasatantras or works on MedicalChemistry too, appear to have flourished duringthe Buddhist period.

We are, however, landed on such a timethat most of these names (of which I have givennearly fifty) will come, not only to the lay publicbut also to many Ayurvedic physicians andscholars, as new revelations. Is it not our duty,unworthy sons as we are of worthy forefathers, tounearth these great works like the illustriousLieutenant Bower, who found out in ChineseTurkistan, the famous Ayurvedic work calledNavani-Takam in the Bower manuscripts so ablydeciphered by the indefatigable Dr. Hoernle ofOxford? I also trust that Dr. Stein who, workingunder the auspices of the Government of India hasjust returned from his manuscript-finding tour inCentral Asia will add to our knowledge of freshworks of Hindu Medicine along with those ofvarious other branches of Sanskrit Literature by

* Jivaka was another genius who came out of the Takaśila (Taxila) university. Takaśila or Taxila university existed at a placecurrently in Pakistan. It gets its name from Taka, who was the son of Bharata (the brother of Rāma). Taka ruled over thekingdom of Taka Khaa, which even extended beyond modern day Uzbekistan, and Tashkent.- Author)

Fig. 5. Taxilla University flourished between 600 BCE and500 CE, in the kingdom of Gandhar, in Ancient India, butnow in Pakistan. Here, 68 subjects were taught and thestudents from all over world used to come to attainspecialization in these subjects. The main subjects were;Vedas, Grammar, Philosophy, Astronomy, medicine(Ayurveda), surgery, politics, archery warfare, music, dance,commerce, futurology etc. There were even curious subjectslike the art of discovering hidden treasure, decryptingencrypted messages, etc. Bhikcu Attreya was a teacher inthis university


bringing to light numerous works which so forexist only in name.

Pānini the great Sanskritist and scholarwas another great product of this university(Taxila). He was an expert in language andgrammar and authored one of the greatest workson grammar ever written called Aādhyāyi.Aādhyāyī means eight chapters and is morecomplicated and at the same time highly technicaland specific defining the features and rules ofSanskrit grammar. He was a doctor and an expertin pulse reading (understanding the health statusof the body by just listening to the person’s pulse!).He studied Ayurveda in Takaśilā University forseven years. His areas of specialization wasPa–cakarma, Marma and Surgery. Jivaka was thepersonal physician of Buddha and also cured theNādī Vrana of Buddha! He also worked with thegreat classic beauty Āmrapāli and ensured that sheretained her youthful countenance and performedmany amazing operations on her using onlyMarma points and surgical procedures! He alsoinvented a cure for Filariasis. There are over 15000handwritten manuscripts of Jivaka’s expertisepassed on by generations to their children and arestill preserved in India even today.

Past Successes the dissection of corpses forlearning: “Most of you, I believe, have heard ofthe past glory of Ayurveda. When the greater partof the world was submerged in the abyss ofignorance, it is the Indian sages, who firstunderstood the necessity of dissection of thehuman body in the education of Physicians andSurgeons. Says Suśruta, writing in unmistakablelanguage to thousand years ago –

rLekfUu% la'k;a Kkua g=kk 'kY;L; okaNrkA'kks/kf;Rok e`ra lE;x~ nz"Vdks·³x fofuÜp;%AA'kjhjs pSo 'kkL=ks p n`"Vk;Z% Likn~ fo'kkjn%An`"VÜpqrkH;ka lUnsgeok;ks ákpjsr~ fØ;k%AA

(Suśruta, śārira, Ch. V.)

“Therefore, whoever wishes to practiceSurgery, must prepare a corpse in theproper way and see by careful dissection

every part of the body in order that hemay have definite and doubtlessknowledge”

“Compare with this what Dr. Pusehmannsays in his “History of Medical Education” aboutthe practice of dissection in Europe- “Dissection”of the human subject was in the first centuries ofthe middle ages opposed by religious and politicalordinances and also by social prejudices”.

Circulation of blood: “Circulation of blood wasunderstood with fair clearness long long beforethe much-talked-of discovery by Sir WilliamHarvey in the seventeenth century. Let me quotea passage here to illustrate this:

^^rsu ewysu egrk egkewyk erk n'kAvktksogk% 'kjhjs·fLer~ fof/kH;Urs leUrr%AA

isukStlk orZ;fUr izhf.krk% loZtUro%A;n~nrs loZHkwrkuka thfora ukofr"BrsAA

;r~ lkjHkknkS xHkZL; iks·lkS xHkZjlknzl%AAlorZekua ân;a lekfo'kfr ;r~ iqu%AA** bR;kfnA

(Caraka, sūtra, Ch. XXX)

“From that great centre (the heart)emanate the vessels carrying blood intoall parts of the body-an element whichnourishes the life of all animals andwithout which life would be extinct. It isthat element which goes to nourish thefoetus in utero and which flowing into itsbody returns to the mother’s heart.”

“And wonder of wonders, what could havebeen discovered by the ancient sages of India overa couple of thousand years ago came as so great asurprise to most medical men in Europe in SirWilliam Harvey’s time” No doctor above the ageof forty could be persuaded to believe in theimpossible suggestions” of Harvey who wascondemned and booted out of society for hisdiscovery (Vide Hume’s History of England).”

What is Vāyu, Kapha and Pitta?: “The theoryof Vāyu, Pitta and Kapha was also a greatdiscovery which, unfortunately, has been muchmisunderstood by western scholars judging by thewrong irresponsible translation rendering these


of life as manifested through cell-development ingeneral and through the central and SympatheticNervous Systems in particular; that the word Pittadoes not essentially mean “Bile” but signifies thefunction of metabolism and thermogenesis or heat-production comprehending in its scope, theprocess of digestion, metabolism, colouration ofblood and formation of the various secretions andexcretions, which are either the means or the endsof tissue-combustion: and that the word Kaphadoes not mean “Phlegm” merely but is usedprimarily to imply the function of cooling andpreservation (thermo-taxis or heat-regulation) andsecondarily the production (and products) of thevarious preservative fluids, e.g. Mucus, Synovial,etc., which are the manifest forms of that function.We regret, we cannot do justice to this subject herefor want of time but we hope the above wouldgive a clue to the student who means really toinvestigate. It must be remembered that the theoryof Vāyu, Pitta and Kapha is not the same as theold expounded humoural theory of the Greek andRoman Physicians who, though they borrowed theidea from Ayurveda, probably failed to grasp thetrue meaning of the theory.

I am convinced that the truth and theparticular value of the Ayurvedic theory can beverified. It affords sensible explanations of certainotherwise in-explicable facts in the physiologicalcycle of life as well as in the causation andamelioration of diseases and their symptoms. Itcan guide you in understanding the laws of generaltherapeutics-which it would be much to theadvantage of any medical man to learn. I dare saythat studying the subject with an open mind, hewill be converted to believe in the theory. As wefind in daily practice, even a half-educatedAyurvedic physician who remembers the laws ofEtiology and Therapeutics and Dietary based uponthis theory fares pretty well by the bedside of hispatient.”

The chemistry in Ayurveda: “The advancesmade in Chemistry by the ancient sages have been

Fig. 6. William Harvey (1 April 1578 – 3 June 1657) Hewas an English physician who first told the world about thecirculation of blood and made seminal contributions inanatomy and physiology

Fig. 7. William Harvey’s diagram showing circulation ofblood

terms as “Wind, Bile and Phlegm”. The properexplanation of this theory will take up a treatiseby itself but let me observe here in passing thatthe word Vāyu does not imply “Wind” inAyurvedic literature but comprehends all thephenomena of motion which come under thefunctions of life-or to be more explicit-functions


already dealt with by the distinguished scholar Sir.P.C. Roy of Calcutta. When we consider theremote age in which these advances were made,we have to bow to the wisdom and ardent spirit ofresearch which characterized the work of theancients. In Botany too of which only scantyrecords are available in the writings of Vāgbhaa,Śāragdhara, etc. and some material advancesappear to have been made.”

Vka-Ayurveda : “Plants were called sthāvara-jīva or stationery animals which could feelpleasure and pain. This indeed is a fact which hasbeen at last proved by accurate experiments byour illustrious Professor J.C. Bose of Calcutta. Aregular symptomatology and treatment of plant-diseases were also known under the name of “Vka-Ayurveda “ which I have already referredto and some portions of which are still availablein the writings of Śāragdhara and inAgnipurāa.”

it from inaccurate translations. In Pharmacy, theart by which the properties of a drug or drugs areimbued in spirits (as in Asavas and Arias) inGhee, Oil, Syrup, etc. was well known.”

Makaradhvaja: “Therapeutics of mercury and itscompounds and other minerals, finest preparationsof which are made in a form assimilable by thehuman system show the great advances that yetmark the excellence of Ayurvedic Medicine.Strongly, it is not yet known to Western Medicalmen that Mercury, when combined with Sulphuras in the Black Sulphide or Red Sulphide can neverproduce Mercurialism,-a knowledge which is thebirth-right or all Ayurvedic physicians. Yet, I haveseen Western medical men including suchauthorities as Sir Pardey Lukis use the well-knownpreparation of Mercury known as“Makaradhvaja” without any prejudice and witha fairly proper judgment of its true value. What apity then that, without a shade of medical training,Chemists like Professor P. Neogi have rushed inboldly to disclaim the real therapeutic merits of“Makaradhvaja” Chemistry, till now at least, canlittle explain why natural Salicylates are moreeffective than the synthetic Salicylates, whyBeech-wood Creosote is more valuable intherapeutics than the Coal-tar derivative of thesame name, why the true mineral waters are morereliable than their exact imitations made by thechemists.”

Adoption of the foreign drugs: “In thisconnection, I should also mention, in passing, thatone particular feature of Ayurvedic works,specially of later periods, was that even foreigndrugs having valuable therapeutic qualities couldbe taken up and used without any prejudice, forinstance, such drugs as Rhubarb. Opium, JamaicaSara, etc. (Vide the writings of Bhāva Miśra).”

The diagnosis from hearing of sound and thediseases caused by the ‘micro-organisms’: “InMedicine proper, it is enjoined that diagnosisshould be made by the five senses supplementedby interrogation. The method of direct auscultation

Fig. 8. Vka-Ayurveda. According to Vaidya Gananath Sensome portions of it are available in Śāragadhara and inAgnipurāa. It is a science for the treatment of plants orplant pathology or plants science. Asian Agri HistoryFoundation has brought out a book written by Surapāla

Materia Medica and Pharmacy: “In the field ofMateria Medica and Pharmacy, the properties ofdrugs and food-stuffs were investigated anddescribed by a terminology the meaning of which,properly understood, does not fail in numerousinstances to give a correct insight into therapeutics.Unfortunately, however, this terminology has yetremained a sealed book to those who have judged


or hearing of breath-sounds, etc. was probablyknown to them as we find its evidence in thefollowing passages of Suśruta;

Jo.kksfUnz;kxzká%] ^^lQsua jDrHkhj;=Uufuy%l'kCnks fuXZPNfr** bR;soekn;%

(Suśruta, sūtra, Ch. X)

which seems to refer to the crepitations or rales,audible in wounds & probably in Pneumonia andother lung-diseases as well. The Bacterial originand the infective mature of certain diseases as theeruptive fevers, Leprosy, Small-pox, Tuberculosisetc., have also been clearly indicated in suchpassage as these:-

lokZ.kh dq”Bkfu lokZrkfu lfiÙkkfu ldQkfulfØehf.k pksikZ;'pUrsA

(Suśruta, nidāna, Ch. V.)

“All forms of leprosy (and some skindiseases) are not only due to thederangements of Vāyu, Pitta and Kaphabut are also of parasitic (micro-organism’)origin.”

Again,

^^dq”Ba TojÜp 'kks"kÜp us=kfHk";Un ,oa pA vkSilfxZdjksxkÜp laØkefUr ujkRuje~**AA

(Suśruta, nidāna, Ch. V.)

“Various skin-diseases and Leprosy,Fever, Pulmonary consumption,Ophthalmia and Epidemic diseases borneby air and water are usually capable oftransmission from one man to another”.

jäokfgfljkLFkkuk jätk tUroks·lko%Aviknk o`ÙkrkHkzkÜp lkSUH;kr~ dsfpnn'kZuk%**A

bR;kfnA(Suśruta, uttara, Ch. 54)

“There are various fine organisms (senseof micro-organism), which circulate in theblood and are invisible to the naked eye;usually these look like round bodies ofcopper colour and are without legs. Theygive rise to various forms of skin diseasesetc.”.

“But most important are the principles ofMedicine recommended in the treatment of

Fig. 9a. Rhubarb, Rheum species vide Bhāva Miśra this wasa foreign drug(from China) later associated with Ayurvedaunder the name of Revanda chini and in Kumaon & Garhwalthe roots are known as Dolu

Fig. 9b. The Aerial part of Rheum sp. consume as vegetablein European countries. In Uttarakhand these are known asRobur (possibly from rhubarb) and the leaves and stemsare eaten as vegetable

Fig. 10. Opium was introduced in Ayurveda as ‘Ahifen’.The dried exudation of poppy raw -head is known as opium


Fevers, Phthisis, Bowel complaints and variouschronic diseases of the Nervous System which areso elaborately and rationally dealt with that thewestern medical men, who take pains to studythem in original would considerably profit bythem. Such a study by one, namely, Dr. GeorgeClarke, MA, MD of Philadelphia, reading CarakaSahitā even in a half-done translation elicitedthe following remark :”

“As I go over each fasciculus (of Caraka),I arrive at one conclusion and that is this: If thephysicians of the present day would drop fromthe Pharmacopoeia all the modern drugs andchemicals treat their patients according to themethods of Caraka, there would be less work forthe undertakers and fever chronic invalids in theworld.’

“Consider also the very excellent andeffective methods of medication by the variouscleaning and retentive enemata of certaindecoction and oils (called Niruha and Anuvāsana),so systematically described as two of the fiveessential methods of treatment. All theseunfortunately have been mostly forgotten orabandoned by the present day Vaidyas but thedemand our careful attention and studynevertheless, as they are productive, I say fromexperience-of very agreeable results in manychronic diseases. In the treatment of diseases ofthe Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, not only variouseffective collyriums, eye- lotions, gargles,vapours, sprays, blisters etc., have been describedbut also a particularly useful method called ‘’ Siro-Virocana ‘’ or the use of Errhines has beenprescribed with full instructions. The last is amethod of treatment I have often found veryeffective in many chronic cases, which seemedincurable according to the Western System ofMedicine. It is a method which learned doctorswould do well to follow in certain afflictions likeobstinate head-ache, glaucoma, optic neuritis etc.The method is simply that of inducing catarrh withthe aid of some acrid dry or fluid Errhines (e.g.

the powder or decoction of the fruits of LuffaBindal, Abrus precatorious, etc.)”

Surgery in Ayurveda: “In Surgery, the progressmade seems to have been wonderful. Majoroperations like Amputations, & Laparotomy (i.e.opening the abdomen for intestinal obstruction orother troubles). Lithotomy (or extraction of stone)and even Trephening of the skull were well-knownto our old sages. The excellent classification anddescription of the surgical instruments underdifferent heads as found in Suśruta and Vāgbhaacompel the admiration of those who take pains to

Fig. 11. Luffa Bindal (possibly Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb(Kali torai) presently used in Pakistan in medicine all partsare bitter). Fruit were used by Gananath Sen in chronic cases,which seemed incurable according to the Western Systemof Medicine such as obstinate head-ache, Glaucoma, OpticNeuritis etc. The method is simply that of inducing catarrhwith the aid of some acrid dry or fluid Errhines (e.g. thepowder or decoction of the fruits).Similarly, Abrusprecatoiusis was also used for the same purpose

Fig. 12. Seeds coming out from the dried pods of Abrusprecatorius. The roots are known as Indian Liqorice as it isalso sweet like licorice


study them with care. There can be little doubtthat the old Greek and Roman surgical instrumentsthat are found preserved in the museum of Naplesare only the replicas of Hindu instruments yetfound accurately described in texts at least twothousand years old. Unfortunately, here too as inother branches of Hindu Medicine.”

Midwifery: “In Midwifery, the different mal-positions of the foetus at birth were wellunderstood by the ancients and the differentmethods of treatment by version or turning thefoetus in Utero, Embriotomy and Caeseriansection described in ancient works stand asmonuments of past glory.”

Compounds curing sexual debility: “Last,though not least, come the two specializedbranches of Medicine-of Hygienic Medicine Ishould say-in which methods of warding offdisease and age and keeping the sexual vigor intacthave been dealt with. These are the branchesknown as the Rasāyana and Vājīkaraa. The mainobject in view of such treatment was therestoration of vigor and immunity (or “VainaviŚakti” as we should call it) by the preservation ofthe vital fluid, the necessity of which is now beingfaintly realized in Western Medicine. Theresearches of Brown-Sequard and Metchnikoffand other eminent scholars have only recentlyshown the importance of this subject in WesternMedicine. These two sections of medicine

Fig. 13. An imaginary painting showing a surgery performedby Suśruta

“Ancient surgeons have been wronged bycertain scholars of Western Medicine like theThakore Saheb of Gondal and his follower Dr. G.N. Mukherjee of Calcutta a giving fantasticdescriptions of Hindu surgical instruments whichnever existed except in their imagination. In apaper read partly before the Sāhitya Sabha ofCalcutta and partly before the fifth All-IndiaAyurvedic conference (now being published in the“Indian Medical Record”), I have tried to showfrom old authentic texts that most of the modernsurgical Instruments are only slightly modifiedreproductions of the ancient Instruments. I havealready cited instances of these, namely, theSimhamukha Yantra which is nearly identical withthe modern Lion forceps; and Allingham’sSpeculum, which agree closely with “the four-bladed expansible instrument” described byVāgbhaa as “eqnzkoa) prqfeZÙkeEeksteqdqykuue~” inAāga Hdaya (sūtra. Ch. 25.)”

Fig. 14. Instruments used during surgery in Ayurveda


however, yet survive partly in Ayurvedic Medicineand partly in the Unāni system. I would draw theattention of all medical men to the necessity ofpatient research in these lines of AyurvedicMedicine.”

Charges Against Ayurveda-Answered: “I nowproceed to answer certain charges that have beenleveled against Ayurveda by its ill-informedopponents. We have heard it said recently by Col.Jackson speaking in the Bombay LegislativeCouncil, “Ayurveda was a very antiquated and avery empirical and unscientific method oftreatment and that its revival would be a mostretrograde step”.

“Now, from the short resume of Ayurvedagiven by me, could you think these charges weretrue? And if there was any empiricism, was it themonopoly of Ayurveda whilst Western physiciansused Quinine, Arsenic and Iodides with perfectrationale? The very accurate principles ofmedicine which every well-educated Ayurvedicphysicians follows in the treatment of diseases –The principle, for instance, of starving (up to acertain limit) a fever patient suffering from Auto-in-toxication (called ‘Samata’ in Ayurveda), ofgiving mild purgatives in the first stages ofDysentery, of giving plenty of fatty food inTuberculosis, of enjoining salt-free diet in Bright’sdisease and Anaemia, of treating obstinate casesof chronic diarrhea and Sprue with increasingdoses of Rasaparpai (specially prepared blackSulphide of Mercury) and a pure milk diet, arethese principles merely empirical? And is it allscientific to employ right and lefts all these newpatent drugs of Europe and America which arethrust upon you with wily advertisements givingformula which have only the semblance ofscience? Are they prescribed with perfectsatisfaction of rationale? What rationale is therein being told that Salvarsan is the Dioxy-diamide-arseno-benzol?”

“It is the clinical results that ultimatelycount and if you follow sound principles of

treatment, a little empiricism will always standyou in good stead.”The merely scientificphysician,” says Dr. Clifford Albutt (a well-knownEnglish authority on Medicine). “is apt to be blindto useful manoeuvers which rest rather upon theaccidental than the more permanent qualities ofthings.” And he goes on to say- “Prevalentopinions, though not formal truths, contain truthsand this the practical physician does not fail toperceive: nor does he forget that the observationsof any person however profound, being theobservations of an individual of brief life andlimited faculties, need some tempering bytraditional lore and by the embodied opinions ofa vast number of observers over a long period oftime. “Why then bring the false chare foundnowhere” in the Dictum of Caraka”- as Col.Jackson puts it – “That the intelligent physicianshould adhere to official recipes given in booksof Medicine and not introduce innovationshowever logical etc.” ? On the other hand, Carakahas said in clear terms :

dq Rluk s fg yk sd k s c q f);rkekpk; Z %' k = k q Üpkc q f);rke ~ ] vrÜpfH kl ehn; aoqf)erk·fe;L;kfi /kU;a ;'kL;ekiq";a ikSf"VdaykSfddeH;q ifn'krks op% JkfrR;euq fo|kr";psfrA

(Caraka, vimāna, Ch. VIII)

“The intelligent should look upon everyone as their teacher and gather the best inapplied therapeutics even when thatknowledge comes from the enemy”.

Again says Vāgbhaa-

vlkr'kkL=le³koku~ 'kkL;ek=ijk;.kkuA~otZ;rku~ fHk"kd~ik'kku~ ik'kku~ oSoLorkfuoAA

(Aāga Hdaya, uttara, Ch. 40)

“Those that follow the recipes of booksblindly and are not capable of reasoningtheir application should be condemned ofreasoning their application should becondemned and looked upon as the snaresof death.”

“Again, the learned Colonel falls foul ofAyurveda because in the general list of mineral,


vegetable and animal substance used in Ayurvedicmedicine are found included” fat, bile, marrow,blood, flesh, urine, hoof, etc., For is not bog’s lardused in Western Medicine sanctified by beingcalled “Adeps” and Ox-bile made delicious whencalled “Fel Bovinum” and so forth? Certainlyantiquated Sanskrit names could not impart thesame acceptability that jaw-breaking Latin namesof the British Pharmacopoeia can? So, down withantiquated Ayurveda which prescribed thesesubstance and up with bone-marrow, tabloids, raw-meat-juice and calf’s foot jelly; Fortunately, therulers of our land have reasons superior to suchwisdom.”

“I do not here propose to discuss or defendsome effete material that has crept into andmutilated Ayurvedic literature and which anyopponent of Ayurveda could take the pains togather to scandalize Ayurveda. Such effectivematerial is nothing but interpolation and is likethe chaff that must be eliminated if the nutritiousgrains are wanted.”

“The charge that Ayurveda is not aprogressive system is not so much a charge againstthe science itself as against ourselves. Ayurvedaprogressed considerably whenever there waspeace and prosperity in the land; it is againstshowing signs of life and progress all over India.We must not forget the vicissitudes that befell allIndian literature during so many centuries. Thespirit of acquiring knowledge enjoined byAyurveda is the sprit of progress. It demands thatyou should investigate and learn and add to thestore of knowledge left to you by the ancients.Even shepherds and cow-boys knowing theproperties and identification of drugs were notdespised by Ayurvedic authorities. They borrowedfrom foreigners, whenever they found it necessary,of which I have already given examples. So wedo injustice not only to ourselves but also to ourforefathers when we suffer Ayurveda to remain ata standstill and allow our opponents to call itstagnant.”

A Word to Western Medical Men : “Whilst onthis subject, I beg to offer a piece of advice tothose right-minded friends of mine, who have fromtime to time, evinced a commendable desire tolearn Ayurveda. To these I say, try to have aworking knowledge of Sanskrit, before you beginto study Ayurveda. Learning Sanskrit, at least somuch as to prepare one for the study of Ayurvedais not so difficult as is usually supposed, especiallyif the attempt is made to learn the language ratherthan the intricacies of Sanskrit Grammar. I knowsome friends of mine in the medical circle, whohave taken great pains to learn French or Germanin order to be able to read certain works onMedicine and Pathology in original. Now ifknowledge of French or German is useful andimportant in the study of Western medicalliterature, the knowledge of Sanskrit is essentialand indispensable in the study of Eastern medicallore. Again, the Bengali and English translationsof Ayurvedic works that have been published nowand again are mostly the work of mercenary andlay, irresponsible men who know and care to knowlittle of the technique of the medical science. Thesetranslations, very unlike the excellent Englishrenderings of the German and French works,betray ignorance and lead to mis-interpretation.Even learned and careful scholars of the West, likeDr. Wise, Dr. Royle, Sir William Jones, etc. towhom we must be highly grateful for theirpartiality to Eastern literature, have often, thoughunconsciously, cast shame on Ayurveda bymisunderstanding certain great truths (Cf. themisinterpretation of Vāyu, Pitta, Kapha mentionedbefore). Then again, there are those biased andhasty judges, like Hass and other writers who havementioned Ayurveda only to condemn it. Manyan apparition might be conjured up in the darknessof ignorance. For those honest students of Easternmedical literature who have the mind but not atpresent the means of Sanskrit knowledge to learnthe subject fully, I have only to add-Beware ofthese apparitions.”


“In this connection, Western medical menshould also remember that many of the principlesof treatment recommended in Ayurveda are almostidentical with those of Western medicine-only thedrugs and methods of administrating them aresomewhat different. So, an open-hearted andliberal co-operation of both should be a source ofgreat help to the profession as a whole and to thesufferers entrusted to our care.”

The Present State of Ayurveda and the need forits reform: “Whatever may have been the pastglory of Ayurveda, it would be self-deception onour part to think that we still sit on a high pedestal.The fact is unfortunately just the other way. Thenumber of Ayurvedic physicians in India is legionbut soundly educated exponents of the ancientsystem are not yet numerous. Besides this, thereis yet a good deal of conservatism which iscontrary to the liberal spirit of Ayurveda and whichmust be overcome.”

Valuable literature in Ayurveda: “Much of theold valuable literature has been lost and what existsis not often studied in scientific spirit. If the soundprinciples and methods of treating diseases withthe time-honoured recipes of reliable efficacy werenot there, the Ayurvedic system of medicine wouldhave been dead by this time in the struggle forexistence. So, let us not be slow in recognizingthe crying need for reform. Let us clearlyunderstand that our Anatomy and Physiologymight have been comprehensive at one time, butas we have them at present, they need to be siftedand supplemented. Our Chemistry, Botany andMateria Medica might have been once ahead ofthe West, but now we must recast and remodelthem according to the present high scientificstandards. We may have once made great progressin Surgery but we must, confess that we now lagsadly behind. And again our old methods of studymight have been of a high order but we must notbe timorous to admit that the present methods bywhich so-called Kavirājas are manufactured outof idle pupils or compounders in many cases are

fit to be mercilessly condemned. And even in thegreat departments of Medicine and Pharmacywhich are our great pride and mainstay, we mustwork hard to-rediscover, demonstrate and utilizethe principles of Medicine that form the bed-rockof our treatment. In other words, we must establishthem on the sound-footing of actual observationsand experiments according the methods of theWest, we must make good the looses we havealready sustained. To cite a common place simile,Ayurveda is just like the famished old father wholeans upon his grown-up son for food and support.But because the father is old and diseased, I trust,it will not be proposed to kill him altogether.”

“It is not only a question of sentiment. Thepick and flower of our countrymen who haveacquired mastery over the Western medical sciencemust be inwardly aware that the hug vauntedmachinery of western pathology and bacteriologyand medicine are often found inert and cloggedwhen certain chronic diseases are encountered,diseases which every now and then the oldirrational Vaid or Kavirāja manages to cure withtraditional recipes of his forefathers. So, truescientific spirit demand that we should cast of allprejudice and investigate with an open mind. It isa good song of the times that such an investigationinto the action and uses of indigenous drugs hasbegun by foreigners and some of our countrymenfollowing in their footsteps. Unfortunately,however Ayurveda will not profit much by theresults of these investigations. The westernPharmacopoea will profit by them and pamper onthem whilst the chances are that the AyurvedicPharmacopoeia will grow poorer. Should weremain silent on-lookers in this crisis? “

The Work of regeneration already begun: “Itis a matter for congratulation that already somegood work has begun in the Ayurvedic world.During the last ten years, 1910-1916, the spirit ofawakening is abroad,- as evidenced in the All-India Ayurvedic Conference, of which sevenannual sessions have been held in different


provinces. The Ayurveda Mahāmaala, therepresentative standing Committee of theConference, is constituted annually of memberselected from all parts of India and working all theyear round. Side by side and under its auspicesworks the All-India board of Ayurvedic education,which hold simultaneous examinations in severalimportant centers of India as Calcutta, Dacca (nowin Bangla Desh), Madras, Poona, Bombay,Ahmadabad, Ajmer, Lahore (now in Pakistan),Delhi, etc. In these examinations, the trustedrepresentatives of Ayurvedic medicine of allprovinces of India are appointed examiners andpractical examinations are also held under theirmanagement. The new curricula of studies laiddown by the Board are according to up- to- datesyllabus in chemistry. Anatomy, Surgery,Toxicology, Medical jurisprudence etc. It is hopedthat Ayurvedic practitioners going through thesecourse of study will raise the status of theirprofession. The examination, I may add, arebecoming more and more popular and it isexpected that with better arrangement foreducation they will be more popular still. OfAyurvedic School too, the number is increasing.We have an excellent school at Madras under themanagement of Vaidyaratna Pandit D.Gopalcharlu, which has a charitable dispensaryattached to it. There is a similar one at Bombayunder the management of D. Popat Prabhuramwho devotes his whole energy for its welfare. Inthe Maharaja’s College at Jaipur, the Ayurvedicsection is doing good work in training studentsunder such professors as the learned PanditLakshmiram Swami Ayurvedacharya.”

“There also an excellent Ayurvedic schoolat Poona under the learned Pandit Krishna SastriKavade B. A., who works with undaunted spirit.There are state Ayurvedic colleges in Travancoreand Mysore, some of which are sending out theirpassed students to various parts of India with goodstipends to enable them to make post- graduatestudies. The Ayurvedic Section of the D.A.V.College of Lahore is doing good work and it is

being remodeled and equipped with some up-to-date arrangements. There are other Ayurvedicschools like the Lalit-hari Ayurvedic College ofPilibhit U. P., the Vanwarilal Ayurvedic School ofDelhi, the Gurukul Ayurvedic School, Kangra,etc., all of which are doing excellent work in theirown ways. In Bengal, there are two or threeschools of Ayurveda which work ratherindifferently, Ayurvedic teaching is mainlyimparted under the old system and apprenticesystem combined. Almost every eminent Kavirājathere not only teaches a number of students buttrains them under his personal care, giving themfree board and lodging for several years. So, thecharge that there are no Ayurvedic schools in Indiaheard of from some quarters is very ill-founded.”

“No less than fifty Ayurvedic journals inseven different languages of India are also beingpublished monthly, (in 1916) some of which areeager to absorb and expand the Knowledge ofrecent discoveries in the medical world. All-IndiaAyurvedic Exhibitions are being held year afteryear along with the All India Conference by whichmore knowledge about the uses and identificationsof indigenous drugs and rare books is being made.Ardent scholars like Lieutenant Colonel K. R.Kirtikar I.M.S., F. L. S. (retired) of Bombay andMajor B.D. Basu I. M. S. (retired) of Allahabadare working hard to collect, identify and fullydescribe plants of Indigenous medicine. Text bookon Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Toxicology,and up-to-date Hygeine are being written for thebenefit of Ayurvedic students of Sanskrit, Marathi,Hindi, and other languages of India. Sanskrit beingit the common language of scholastic India,Sanskrit text-books are much in demand yet.”

“Some rare books on Ayurvedic Medicinetoo are now being published in the AyurvedīyaGranthamālā series by the indefatigable PanditJadavji Tricumji of Bombay. The AnandasaramaSanskrit Press of Poona and the governments ofMysore and Travancore, as also the Asiatic Societyof Bengal, also deserve our thanks for somevaluable publications on Ayurveda.”


A Word of Appeal: “Yet, I must point out thatthe good work that is being done is too meager,when compared to the vast campaign before us.Long manuscript-collecting tours should beundertaken by arduous well-informed scholarshaving the regeneration of Ayurveda as their aimand object. Remembering that the ravages of theheartless invaders of India did not spread so wildlyinto the Deccan as in other parts of India, I ventureto assert that such tours in the southern half ofIndia would be productive of great results. Well-equipped Ayurvedic Colleges having full facilitiesfor anatomical dissection, physiologicaldemonstrations, and physics and chemistry classesshould be founded in every province and affiliatedto the Hindu university or the all-India AyurvedaVidyāpīha. To be should attached Ayurvedichospitals for the treatment of acute and chronicdiseases to supplement the good work of alreadyexisting hospitals conducted on western lines.Such institutions should from the fountain-springsfrom which direct clinical knowledge should flowabundantly into the minds of Ayurvedic students.Pharmacological and analytical laboratories for theinvestigation of indigenous drugs should also workunceasingly as parts of these institutions, and fornew discoveries and demonstrations on Ayurvediclines.”

The Ayurvedic Libraries and Gardens,Herbaria, Museums: “Libraries of Ayurvedicbooks, and also gardens, herbaria and museumsof indigenous drugs should also be maintainedwith proper care to facilitate practical knowledgeand research work. All these may appear to be anorder too large for our means but there can be nodoubt that such should be our ideals, provided weseriously contemplate the conservation of India’swisdom in the medical science. The sufferingmillions of India whom Ayurveda saved forcenturies past and is still serving to no small extent,demands from us that we should give them thebenefits of the same system in all the lustre andexactitude that western methods are capable ofgiving it. We have built up great hopes and have

the fullest confidence in the future work of theHindu University so it is incumbent on us to setthe great ideal in this humane work.”

“The Ruling Chiefs and the wealthyphilanthropist under whose parental care so muchexcellent work is being done in Ayurvedic schoolsand charities owe it themselves to expand theseinstitutions up to modern ideals.”

“It was high time that the State and peoplemoved and helped the Ayurvedic system withunstinting generosity and care. India’s need formedical aid is neither small nor limited.Considering the proportion of medical men to thevast population, India of all countries is mostpoorly supplied with medical aid. The proportionof medical men trained in western Medicine tothe teeming millions who are ailing from year’send to year’s end with Malaria, Cholera,Tuberculosis, Fevers and various chronic diseasesis simply like that of a drop of oil on the surgingocean. The salvation of diseased India lies in therejuvenation of Ayurvedic Medicine side by sidewith the progress of the Western system. Therewill be no difficulty in obtaining indigenous drugsin abundance. War (Ist world war 1914-16) willnot affect their prices. The noble bands of silentworkers who are doing so much thankless goodwork all over India with the aid of indigenousdrugs certainly deserve encouragement and notdamning. Fortunately, our kind-hearted rulers,(The Britishers and Rājās & Mahārājās of differentstates) are not quite indifferent to this matter. Tothe voice of the All-India Ayurvedic Conference,they have already responded and our gratefulthanks are due to them. Let us hope that, as timerolls on, our benign Government will comeforward with wider sympathies to help therejuvenation of Ayurveda for the good of humanity.But before that, let us ourselves leave no stoneunturned to demonstrate the merits of Ayurvedabefore the world for Ayurveda is a great, boon andheritage, of India first and of the worldafterwards.”


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sen, Gananath. An Address on Hindu Medicine deliveredon 7th Feb.,1916 on the occaison of the foundationCeremony at Hindu University at Benaras, 1916.

Fig. 1. Mahāmahopadhyāya Kavirāj Gananath Sen whodelivered the Address on Hindu medicine at the inaugurationof Hindu University,Varanasi. In 1921 he started clinicalresearch preparing injectables, aerosols, and rectalpreparations from Indian medicinal plants

Fig. 3. Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India (1910-1916)during his period the capital of India was shifted fromCalcutta to Delhi. He also graced the occasion of thefoundation day of Hindu University of Benaras

Fig. 4. Maharaja Rana of Jhalawar Sir Bhawani SinghBahadur, Who presided the function and liberally donatedfor the foundation of the Hindu University of Benaras.©National Portrait Gallery, London

APPENDIX

Fig. 2. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of HinduUniversity of Benaras

some thoughts on hindu medicine — an address by kavirāj ... · some thoughts on hindu medicine...

Documents