VAISHESHIKA SUTRAM
The Vaisheshika shcool of philosophy founded by Kanada was one of the most infuential schools of ancient India and dealt with the study of objects of knowledge (known as prameya vichara). It believed in realistic pluralism and was famous for its contributions like paramanu vada and its metaphysical, epistemological and logical expositions. This philosophy has had profound influennce over other branches of knowlege, even to such an extent that it was a popular saying that Kaanada (system of philosophy formulated by Kanada) and Panineeya (rules of grammar explained by Panini) were the basis for understanding any other Indian science. This book gives the original aphorisms of Vaisheshika philosophy, the knowldege of which is esssential for the undersanding of many fundamental concepts described in Ayurveda classics.
NYAYA SUTRAM
The Nyaya sutra are the aphorisms of nyaya philosohy written by Acharya Goutama (also known as Akshapada). Nyaya was one of the predominant schools of philosophy of ancient India which believed in realism and dealt mainily with the understanding of means of knowlege (termed as pramana, the word pramana meaning true knowledge) and tarka (meaning debate). This philosophy has had profound influence on Ayurveda and many principles of understanding of disease and medicines are based on the principles formulated by Nyaya philosophy. Many concepts have been adopted into Ayurveda classics either directly or in modified form. This book gives the original aphorisms of nyaya darsana written by Goutama, the understanding of which would help to bring more clarity into many concepts described in classics of Ayurveda.
Gheranda samhita
Gheranda samhita is one of the most important texts of hatha yoga along with Hatha yoga pradeepika and Shiva samhita. The name means book written by Gheranda and is written in the form of conversation between Gheranda and Chanda Kapali. This book explains the various aspects of hatha yoga such as shatkarma (six purificatiory methods), asana (positions), pranayama (control of breathing) and later stages of attainment of liberation such as pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Many yogic practices like asana, pranayama and dhyana are useful in the management of many physical, psychosomatic and even mental diseases and is also useful in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Thus understanding of yogic techniques would be benefical to an Ayurveda physician.
Amarakosha
Amarakosa is one among the highly famed sanskrit literary works. It is the most popular sanskrit thesauraus authoured by Amarasimha who lived during 5th -7th century A.D. The book is also named Namalinganushasanam, meaning the text dealing with the names of objects and their gender. It was a general practice among sanskrit students to learn by heart the entire book which helped them to increase their vocabulary in language and also understand the most common words used in literature along with their gender. The book is basically divided into 3 main parts called khanda, namely the svargadi khanda, bhuvargadi khanda and samanya khanda dealing respectively with words relating to Gods and sky, earthly objects and general objects respectively. The bhuvargadi khanda is divided into ten vargas, respectively named bhu varga, puravarga, shilavarga, vanoushadhivarga, simhadivarga, manushyavarga, bramhavarga, kshatriyavarga, vaishyavarga and sudravarga. Among these, vanoushadhi varga deals with the synomyms of medical plants.
Most of the words used in ayurveda literature can be found in amarakosa along with its synonyms. The study of amarakosa enables the students of ayurveda to easily understand the synonyms used in the literature along with their gender, thus bringing more clarity into the sanskrit verses.
ashtadhyayi
Ashtadhyayi is the most authoritative textbook of Sanskrit grammar written by Maharshi Panini in around 4th Century B.C.. The book consists of about 4000 aphorisms in highly compact language covering all major aspects of grammer. The book is named so as it has 8 chapters, each of which are further divided into 4 parts called pada. The book has a unique style of composition by which maximum information in compressed into minimum number of words. Even though there are many other grammarians preceeding Panini, his work forms the basis of most of the currently prevelant rules of grammar used in literature. A good understanding of grammar is necessary for the proper interpretaion of Sanskrit verses so as to derive the appropriate meanings of ayurveda texts. This book includes the basic sutras (aphorisms) written by Panini, which has to be understood with the help of commentaries. This book would be helpful for students to memorise the sutras of Panini.
YOGASUTRA
The Yoga sutras written by Maharshi Patanjali forms the fundamental principles of the Yoga philosophy. It consits of 196 sutras which explain the method of unificaiton of individual soul with the universal soul thus attaining moksha or salvation. This deals mainly with the eight fold method of Rajayoga. This philosophy deals in great detail with te study of mind and the understanding of mind is improtant for a physician. The study of Yoga darshana helps to undersand the diseases of mind like unmada, apasmara etc. and also in controlling the fallacies of mind which are the root cause of any disease. This book gives the original aphorisms of Yoga philosphy as given my Maharshi Patanjali.
Vairagya Shatakam
Vairagya shatakam means a collection of 100 verses regarding vairagya or detachment from sensual objects written by Bhartruhari. It is the third in his triad of books namely Neeti shatakam, Shringara Shatakam and Vairagya shatakam, the former two dealing with dharma or rightful conduct and kama, i.e. fulfillment of desires. The three books together represent the three stages of life, i.e. balya (childhood), youvana (adolescence and early adulthood) and vardhakya (old age) and describes in great poetic way the situation in these stages of life. The vairagya shatakam explains what the real aims of life are and how the senses should be freed from their objects for which they are always craving so that the path of liberation may be achieved. The work was and still continues to be highly popular among the sanskrit fraternity.
Kamasutra (saptamadhikaranam)
The aim of human life is attainment of the four purushartha (goals of life) namely dharma, artha, kama and moksha. The fulfillment of first three is prerequisite for the ultimate aim of life, i.e. salvation or moksha. The kama or desires of life need to be fulfilled in accordance with dharma and artha. Since senses are difficult to control, the indulgence in sense organs should be done only in a proper way or else, they will take the indulger to doom. So a proper understanding of proper means of sensual indulgences is necessary to direct the mind to moksa without it lingering for sensual objects. Kamasutra of Vatsyayana is a highly famed collection of aphorisms which teaches these very things. It is necessary for an Ayurveda physician to know these as it includes many psychological, physiological, social and philosophical aspects which are needed in many spheres of treatment like gynecology and andrology, vajeekarana (sexual medicine and infertility treatment), understanding of human psychology and mental diseases etc. This book only includes the seventh (last) adhikarana of Kamasutra which deals in vajeekarana.
Hitopadesh
The word 'hitha' means beneficial and 'upadesa' means instructions. Hitopadesa consists of a collection of verses and prose containing gereral instrucitons regarding various life situations basically written for children. It consists of profound thoughs of wisdom given my multitudes of wise people compiled by the author for general good. Most ideas are conveyed by means of stories for gererating interest in children and for easy understanding. It is desirable of a physician to be aware of various life situations and he shoud be capable of giving necessary advice based upon the analysis of the situation. This book would be of help in this regard.
samkhyakarika
Samkhyakarika written by Ishwarakrishna is considered to be one of the most important textbooks of Samkhya philosophy, which is the first among the six vedic branches of philosophy. This philosophy was expounded by Acharya Kapila and is one of the oldest schools of philosophy. This philosophy has had treamendous influence over various Indian sciences and deals with variety of questions including origin of the universe and life, cause effect relationship etc which Ayurveda classics have also adopted. This book gives the original text of samkhyakarika the study of which would help bring light into some important concepts described in Ayurveda.
garbhopanishad
The Garbhopanishad (also called Paippalada mokshashastra) is one among the Upanishad dealing with the formantion of the human body and its structure begining form conception. It gives in great detail the development of the baby in the womb, the number of body tissues, proper conception, It is of much importance to a physician to know the basis of the formation and structure of the human body and would be of great use in attainment of a proper progeny. Another version of Garbhopanishad is also available. It describes the formation of foetus, number of bones, muscles, hairs, snayu, marma etc, the monthwise development of baby in the womb and also panchabhowtika nature of body and senses.
brahmasutra
The Brahmasutras (also called Vedanta sutras) are a collection of aphorisms relating to the Vedanta school of philosophy. The authorship of this work is attributed to Vedavyasa. It consists of four chapters and has been commented on by Adi Shankaracharya. The vedanta if the cream of the Vedas dealing with the Upanishads (the knowledge part of Veda called Jnana kanda. The knowlege is important in ultimate form of treatment which is removal of upadha or the root of sorrow leading to liberation from the ultimate dukha which is embodiment of soul. The understanding of this darshana would help physician to rise above the dualities of happiness and sorrow to have an equpoise mind so that he is enabled to take the right decision always and also in treatment of manodosha or problems of mind.
01 Srimad-bhagavata-gita
Bhagavad-gita is a sacred teaching in the form of dialogue between the Lord Sri Krsna and Arjuna.
Human being gets diseased due to unlawful indulgence of material substances and ignorance (agyana or pragyaparadha) is the route cause of all such indulgence. Rational management of mental and spiritual faculties like dhi, smriti, medha and devotion are the main aim of life. Self-realization or atmavigyana is stated as the prime treatment of psychological diseases in Ayurveda. Absolute and faultless knowledge is the only remedy of all miseries.
In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Sri Krishna instructs Arjuna, the science of self-realization, teaching him how to live as a devotee of the Lord and to thus reach the eternal spiritual world while continuing to perform his earthly duties.
Bhagavad-gita explores all possible angles of getting miseries and discusses their remedies as well. The book is not only an ultimate dharmashastra but also a supreme medical text. In due course of time, lots of treatment principles especially for psychological diseases have been borrowed from this divine text by various scholars of different medical schools.
Carakasamhita sutrasthana
Caraka Samhita is the most comprehensive and authoritative classic of Ayurvedic knowledge covering almost each and every aspects of health care. This treatise despite being the oldest available literature of Ayurveda (the currently redacted version available is estimated to be documented in 200 B.C.), is truly a versatile classic and still manages to attract brains from myriad backgrounds other than Ayurveda like modern biomedicine, physicists, chemists, software and even patent attorneys. The richness of Caraka Samhita lies in its liberal and flexible approach, but independent scientific contour.
The occult theme of text is written in eight sections namely sutrasthan, nidanasthan, vimanasthan, sharirasthan, indriyasthan, chikitsasthan, kalpasthan and siddhisthan.
Sutrasthan of this book is dealt with the basic fundamentals of all sections and thus is called 'sirasthan' or head of the compendium. The subject matter of the sutrasthan is presented in 30 chapters in lucid manner.
In due course of time various commentators,with their sound theoritical and practical knowledge, have enriched the ground applicability of text according to the need of the time. Acharya Chakrapanidutta was amongst those grlorious commentators and has written time tested 'Ayurvedadipika' commentary.
this current book contains the original verse and ayurvedadipika-commentary of sutrasthan of 'caraka-samhita'
Carakasamhita nidana-vimana-sharira-indriya-sthana
Caraka Samhita is the most comprehensive and authoritative classic of Ayurvedic knowledge covering almost each and every aspects of health care. This treatise despite being the oldest available literature of Ayurveda (the currently redacted version available is estimated to be documented in 200 B.C.)1, is truly a versatile classic and still manages to attract brains from myriad backgrounds other than Ayurveda like modern biomedicine, physicists, chemists, software and even patent attorneys. The richness of Caraka Samhita lies in its liberal and flexible approach, but independent scientific contour.
The occult theme of text is written in eight sections namely sutrasthan, nidanasthan, vimanasthan, sharirasthan, indriyasthan, chikitsasthan, kalpasthan and siddhisthan.
Nidanasthan of this book is dealt with the eight basic and general pathogenesis of diseases and their brief treatment. (8 chapters)
Vimanasthan deals with different tools and means of treatment like understanding of rasa, amadosa, epidemics, examination tools, srotas, categories of diseases etc. (8 chapters)
Sharirasthan contains various minute measures of getting supreme progeny right from the planning of having child to the delivery of full grown baby. Different physical, psychological and spiritual angles are also categorically discusssed. Apart from these, this sthan has given emphasis on the basic understanding of the body for the treatment. (8 chapters)
Indriyasthan contains details decription of the features of patient approaching to death. The subject matter is presented in 12 chapters.
This current book contains the original verse and ayurvedadipika-commentary of "nidanasthan, vimanasthan, sharirasthan, indriyasthan" of 'caraka-samhita'
Carakasamhita Cikitsasthana
Caraka Samhita is the most comprehensive and authoritative classic of Ayurvedic knowledge covering almost each and every aspects of health care.
Cikitsasthan is one of the most imoprtant sthan of charaka samhita and is considered best. The subject matter is presented in 30 chapters which cover the treament modalities and compatible diet of allmost all the diseases.
This current book contains the original verses and ayurvedadipika-commentary of "cikitsasthan" of 'caraka-samhita'
Carakasamhita kalpa-siddhi-sthana
Caraka samhita is one of the most important text of vrihatrayi(great triad).
Kalpa-sthan deals with the various practical dosage preparations of sodhana therapy (vamana-virechana). (12 chapters)
Siddhisthan contains detail acoount of vastikarma and nasya; their pros and cons.(12 chapters)
This current book contains the original verses and ayurvedadipika-commentary of "Kalpasthan-Siddhasthan" of 'caraka-samhita'
Ashtanga Hridaya sutrasthan
Ashtanga Hridaya is one of the most authoritative and comprehensive compendium of Ayurvedic knowledge. It is written by Acharya Vagbhat or Madhya Vagbhat in 6th Century AD. Most of the subject matters and underlined concepts of Caraka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita have been categorically incorporated in proper place and with adequate alteration according to the need. The text is written all most in verse form and for that it has brought a huge number of sutras and subject matters written in prose form in the aforesaid two classics under the purview of meter and ultimately within the domain of memorization
Sutrasthan of this book is dealt with the basic fundamentals of all sections and is considered the best. The subject matter of the sutrasthan is presented in 30 chapters.
This current book contains the original verse and Sarvangasudara, Ayurvedarasayan-commentary of "Sutra-sthan" of 'Ashtanga Hridaya'
Ashtanga Hridaya Sharira-nidana-cikitsa-kalpasiddhi
Astanga-Hridaya is one of the most widely used, well composed and latest of the classical literature pertaining to Ayurveda. The work has its unique place among ayurveda literature owing to the fact that it makes study a lot easier, being entirely constituted in verse form and also due to the poetic writing skills of the author Vagbhata.
Sharirasthan contains various minute measures of getting supreme progeny and has given emphasis on the basic understanding of the body for the treatment. Decription of the features of patient approaching to death are also discuseed in this segment. (6 chapters)
Nidanasthan of this book is dealt with the basic pathogenesis of diseases. (16 chapters)
Chikitsasthan deals with the treament modalities and compatible diet of allmost all the diseases (22 Chapters).
Kalpa-siddhisthan deals with the various practical dosage preparations, procedure and complications of procedures of sodhana therapy (vamana, virechana and basti). (6 chapters)
This current book contains the original verse and Sarvangasudara, ayurvedarasayan-commentary of "sharirasthan,nidanasthan, Chikitsa-kalpasiddhi-sthan" of 'Ashtanga Hridaya'
Ashtanga Hridaya uttarasthan
Ashtanga Hridaya is one of the most authoritative and comprehensive compendium of Ayurvedic knowledge. It is written by Acharya Vagbhat or Madhya Vagbhat in 6th Century AD. Most of the subject matters and underlined concepts of Caraka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita have been categorically incorporated in proper place and with adequate alteration according to the need.
Uttarsthan deals with Balaroga, Urdhanga roga, Shalya-tantra, Rasayan and Vajikarana. The subject matter is presented in 40 chapters.
This current book contains the original verse and Sarvangasudara, Ayurvedarasayan-commentary of "Uttara-sthan" of 'Ashtanga Hridaya'
astanga hridayam Devnagari and latin
Ashtanga Hridaya is one of the most authoritative and comprehensive compendium of Ayurvedic knowledge. It is written by Acharya Vagbhat or Madhya Vagbhat in 6th Century AD. Most of the subject matters and underlined concepts of Caraka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita have been categorically incorporated in proper place and with adequate alteration according to the need. The text is written all most in verse form and for that it has brought a huge number of sutras and subject matters written in prose form in the aforesaid two classics under the purview of meter and ultimately within the domain of memorization
Sutrasthan of this book is dealt with the basic fundamentals of all sections and is considered the best. The subject matter of the sutrasthan is presented in 30 chapters.