TRANSLATION OF AN AYUREDIC MANUSCRIPT –

A CASE STUDY OF NETRA PRAKASHIKA

Dr. Nadibailu Udaya Shankar, MD (Ayu), Prof, KVG Ayurvedic Medical College, SULLIA

medical manuscripts

The lost treasure of medical The lost treasure of 1

Medical research in ancient India

Dhanwantari - Chikitsa Tatwa Vignana, Divodasa - Chikitsa Darpana, Kashiraja- Chikitsa Kaumudi, Ashwini Twins - Chikitsa Sara Tantra, Nakula- Vaidyaka Sarvaswa, Sahadeva- Vyadhi Sindhu Vimardana

Yama Raja- Jnanarnavam Maha Tantra, Chyavana Rishi- Jivadana, Janaka Yogi- Vaidya Sandeha Bhanjana Chandra suta – Budha - Sarva saara

Jabala - Tantra saraka; Jajali Muni- Vedanga sara tantra

Paila - Roga Nidana, Karabha- Sarva dhara tantra, Agasthya Muni- Vaidya nirnaya tantra

Manuscript Resource Centers 57 manuscript resource centers in India and 22 institutions outside

India with huge manuscript collections In south India, 15 such centers AP – Hyderabad, Tirupati TN- Tanjor, Chennai, Kanchi, Tirur Kerala – Thiruvananthapura, Thripunathira Karnataka- Mysore, Hampi, Shravana Belagola, Shivamogga

Bangalore Database of more than 2 lakh manuscripts available in Karnataka Less than 2% medical manuscripts preserved

Oriental Research Institute Mysore Established in 1891 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, with the

objectives of collecting, preserving, deciphering and critically editing palm leaf and paper manuscripts.

Housed in the architecturally attractive Jubilee Hall built in 1887, it was a part of the Department of Education until 1916, and then became part of the newly established University of Mysore. 

It has covered 69,064 manuscripts

Kannada University at Hampi The Manuscriptology Department

has 4,000 very rare manuscripts. It has documented 50,718 manuscripts most

of which are written in Sanskrit or Kannada scripts covering a wide range of subjects like Religion, Astrology, Philosophy, Vastu Shastra , songs, folklore etc.

National Institute of Prakrit Studies and Research, Shravanabelagola It has a rich library of 20,000 volumes. Documented 50,708 manuscripts

Keladi Museum and Historical Research Bureau, Shimoga  The Museum has a library

about 1,000 paper and palm leaf manuscripts and copper plate inscriptions belonging to the Vijayanagara and Keladi eras. So far it has documented 14,808 manuscripts.

Mahabharata Samshodhana Pratishthanam, Bangalore Started in 1997, by a group of techies

working in various MNCs, involved in research and development of new tools and technologies and in distributing them as freeware.

It has documented so far 59,886 data of manuscripts

2 About this manuscript

Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal Library, ThrLibrary contains very rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, books, maps and painting on all aspects of arts, culture and literature. The Library has collection of  59,000 manuscripts including illustrated manuscripts, which reflect the history and culture of South India. A total number of 24,432 titles are catalogued and prepared 35,914 electronic data of manuscripts

 

Netra Prakashika Only 3 Sanskrit MSS available- Tajavur

Saraswati Mahal Library Exclusive MSS on diagnosis and treatment of

eye diseases Presented as a dialogue between HAYAGRIVA

and NANDI Complete 12 chapters and missing 2 chapters

Pujya Pada - the authorPujyapada, A Jain Muni, (Devanandi) belongs To Sixth And Seventh Century Wrote A Treatise In Sanskrit On Medicine -Continued To Be An Authority for centuries in Karnataka Remained Immortal In Kanakagiri, A Jain Pilgrimage Centre In Karnataka (Near Mysore).

A long 28 years with this mss 1988 – first look into the mss 1989 – first book review Arya vaidyan, a research journal of AVS Kottakkal 1990 – series of write ups on Netra prakashika 2000 – first print edition by CCRAS, New Delhi, without editing and

translation 2001- 2008 – presentations in research conferences on Netra prakashika 2009 – 2010 – English translation prepared 2011 – approached Chaukhamba Vishwabharati for purblising 2012- editing with illustration and DTP 2013 – book printed and published

Specialties of this book3 Specialties of

Netra Prakashika

Videha has described 76, Karala 80, Vagbhata 94 and Satyaki 96 eye diseases

Netra Prakashika has accounted highest number – 100 ailments in the eye.

Each disease is described with causes, clinical features and management

One hundred eye diseases

Eye diseases are classified based on the site of affection and the etiological factors as follows:Eyelids And Eyelashes 24 ,Shukla Sandhi 09

Shweta Mandala 13, Krishnamandala 05 Diseases Produced As A Complication 22

Extending To Entire Eyeball 20Diseases Disturbing Vision 07

Classification

Diagnosis Of Vataja Dristi, Pittaja Dristi, Kaphaja Dristi

Clinical Judgment On Shuddha Dristi And Ashuddha Dristi ( Normal And Abnormal Eye).

Diagnostic method of doshas in eye

The eye complications due to improper treatment of other diseases are given due importance.

A separate chapter for the diagnosis and management of them– nana kritrima sanjata netra roga

IOTROGENIC -Doctor induced eye diseases

A comprehensive account of ten types of pilla roga(chronic and relapsing diseases of the eyelids)

and thirteen types of patala roga (diseases of conjunctiva).

Chronic eye diseases

Eye diseases are classified based on the presenting symptoms like disturbance to the appearance of conjunctiva ( drik shukla rupa), corneal opacities (pushpa) etc.,

Special classification

A great stress is laid upon the bad deeds as a precipitating causes of incurable eye diseases.

Karma shanty –A novel therapeutic regimen with charity,

prayers and worship of God are specified to restore health.

Karmaja netra roga

The different stages of the eye diseases with a risk of blindness is depicted in great detail.

Starting from Slight Pain, Redness, Pus Discharge,dryness, Softening Of The Lens, Staphyloma, Foulsmell, Phthisis And Blindness.

Immediate attention at the earliest stage is advocated

Ten stages leading to blindness

Eye diseases are clinically classified as• Roga Bala Kala (Acute Stage), • Roga Kaumara Kala (Sub Acute Stage) • Roga Vardhakya Kala(chronic). Disease with a long duration history ( chronic) is

considered as of guarded prognosis

Importance of Quick Action 

EYE DISEASES as complications of• Metabolic diseases, • Malignant Tumors, • Liver Diseases • Nutritional deficiencies

Complications of systemic diseasesEye

There are details of several ocular tumours and diseases that reduce the visual perception

Ocular tumors and diseases of vision

Four separate chapters on herbo mineral formulations to treat eye diseases. Both local and systemic routes of drug administration.

A list of more than 30 eye drops and 20 specialized oils are described

Therapeutic excellence-1

In addition to herbs, many minerals and animal products were used to prepare medicines. Mercury was extensively used in local eye drops

Therapeutic excellence-2

Nutritional support to the eye: with carrot and other green leaves, yoga and pranayama are explained separately in netra traniya adhyaya.

Prevention of eye diseases

4 Challenges and opportunities

Many sentences were incomplete, some had spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

Some of the formulations had secret codes of proportion of ingredients

Extracting a scientific meaning found to be difficult in some verses

Meanings were ambiguous in some placesSome words were not understandable at the given context

Translation

Chapters were incomplete, without proper numbering of verses.

Chapters without a titleDisease numbers were not matching in the

beginning and at the endNames of the same condition were dissimilar in

different sections

Editing - 1

Comparing the clinical description with modern ophthalmology was difficult.

Tried to provide illustrations and color photographs to every condition mentioned in the work

Tried to supplement annexure on diseases and the treatment options

Tried to list the minerals and animal products mentioned in different formulations

Illustration

The Central council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) controls ayurveda education in India.

It was convinced about the importance of this book and may include this as one of the reference books for the study of eye diseases in ayurveda

Acceptance from authorities

Clinical studies on Diagnosis of eye diseases based on NP

Preparation of medicines based on the formula mentioned in NP

Clinical Research on the effect of these drugs in specific eye diseases, at least as a part of post graduate and Ph D thesis

Scientific studies on the pharmaco dynamics and pharmaco kinetics of the compounds quoted in NP

Follow up work under progress

There are hundreds of books like netraprakashika, waiting for your attention. Be kind to them

5 Take home message

Take home message

Any little effort today in literary or clinical field will be a great contribution for tomorrow

Be blessed by the sages andbe blessed by generations to comeby your active participation in medical anthropology

Dr. Udaya Shankar - 9449627464

THANK YOUORGANISERS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PATIENT HEARING