2.

Carakapanjika Svami Kumara

SAMHITA
7th cen. A.D.
o Charaka Samhita
3. Nirantarapadavyakhya Jejjata
Mula upadesta Atreya Punarvasu
Tantrakarta Agnivesa 9th cen. A.D.
Pratisamskarta Caraka 4. Pariharavartika Asadha Varma

Puraka Drdhabala 9th cen. A.D.

o Sthana and chapters in Charaka Samhita 5. Brhat Tantrapradipa Naradatta
10thcen.A.D
Sthana Chapters
6. Carakacandrika Gayadasa
1. Sutra sthana 30
2. Nidana Sthana 8 10th cen.
7. Ayurvedadipika Cakrapani
3. Vimana Sthana 8
4. Sarira Sthana 8 11th cen.
8. Carakatattvapradipika Sivadasa Sena
5. Indriya sthana 12
6. Cikitsa sthana 30 16th cen. A.D.
9. Carakopaskara Yogindra Natha Sena
7. Kalpa sthana 12
19th cen. A.D.
8. Siddhi sthana 12
10. Jalpakalpataru Gangadhara Rai
120
o Commentaries on Charaka Samhita 19th cen. A.D.
11. Carakapradipika Jyotisa Candra Saraswathi
Name of the commentary Author period 20thcen. A.D.
1. Carakanyasa Bhattara Harichandra

6th cen.A.D.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
Alternative names of Susruta Samhita
Some sthanas in Charaka Samhita Upadesta Dhanvantari
Name Alternative name
Tantrakarta Vrddha Susruta
1. Sutrasthana Slokasthana
1st Pratisamskarta Susruta
2. Sarirasthana Asrayasthana IInd Pratisamskarta Nagarjuna
3. Vimanasthana Manasthana Pathasuddhikarta Candrata
4. Indriyasthana Aristasthana Sthana and chapter in Susruta Samhita
5. Cititasthana Ausadhasthana
Sthana Chapter
6. Kalpasthana Vikalpasthana
1. Sutra sthana 46

o Seven catuskas in Charaka – Sutrasthana 2. Nidana sthana 16

1. Bhesaja catuska-Dirghanjivitiya, Apamargatanduliya, 3. Sarira sthana 10
Aragvadhiya and Sad-virecanasatasritiya. 4. Cikitsa sthana 40
2. Svastha catuska- Matrasitiya,Tasyasitiya
5. Kalpa sthana 8
3. Nirdesa catuska -Khuddakacatuspada, Mahacatuspada, 6. Uttara tantra 66
Tisraisaniya, Vatakalakaliya.
186
4. Kalpana catuska- Sneha, Sveda, Upakalpaniya, Cikitsaprabhrtiya.
5. Roga catuska- Kiyantahsirasiya, Trisothiya, Astodariya, Maharoga.
o Commentaries on Susruta Samhita
6. Yojana catuska-Astauninditiya, Langhanavrmhaniya,
1. Nyayacandrika by Gayadasa in 10th Cen.
Santarpaniya, Vidhisonitiya.
A.D. (on Nidana sthana)
7. Annapana catuska-Yajjahpurusiy, Atreyabhadrakapyiya,
Annapanavidhi,Vividhasitapitiya. 2. Bhanumati or tatparyatika by Cakrapani in 11th Cen.
In Caraka Samhita, approximately 1950 drug preparations have been A.D. (on Sutra sthana)
described. 3. Nibandhasangraha by Dalhana in 12th Cen. A.D.
o Caraka Samhita contains 12,000 slokas and 9295 sutras. 4. Susrutarthasandipana by Harana Candra in 20th Cen. A.D.
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Ashtanga Sangraha o Commentaries on Astanga Hridaya

Astanga Sangraha was written by Vrddha Vagbhata in 6th Cen. A.D.. Commentary Author
o Sthana and chapters in Astanga Sangraha Sarvangasundara Aruna Datta
Ayurvedarasayana Hemadri
Sthana Chapter
1. Sutra sthana 40 Padarthacandrika Candra Nandana
2. Sarira sthana 12 o The specialities of Astanga Sangraha and Hridaya
3. Nidana sthana 16 1. The description of Mahamayuri vidya
4. Cikitsa sthana 24
2. The Guggulu as medohara besides vatahara has also been
5. Kalpa sthana 08 described.
6. Uttara tantra 50 3. The clinical use of visa.
150 4. The first description of Siva Gutika
The most popular commentary on Astanga Sangraha is 5. The Vipaka has also been described first.
‘Sasilekha’ written by Indu.
6. The single drug system for a disease has been started by
o Astanga Hridaya Vagbhata.
th
Astanga Hridaya was written by Vagbhata in 7 Cen. A.D. o Laghutrayi
o Sthana and Chapters in Astanga Hridaya 1. Madhava Nidana
2. SharngadharaSamhita
Sthana Chapter 3. Bhavaprakasa

1. Sutra sthana 30 O Madhava Nidana (Rogaviniscaya)

2. Sarira sthana 6
Period - 700 A.D.
3. Nidana sthana 16
Author – Madhavakara
4. Cikitsa sthana 22
5. Kalpa sthana 6 o Commentaries:
6. Uttara tantra 40 Name Author
120 1. Atankadarpana Vacaspati
2. Madhukosa Vijaya Raksita
 o Specialities o Specialities
1. Separate description of sula & amlapitta as chapters. 1. The first description of Parasika Yavani and Dvipantara Vaca.
2. Description of slipada & medo roga. 2. The description of Somaroga, Mutratisara & Saiyyamutra in
separate chapters.
3. The alternate drug of Astavarga and copacini are also described.
o Sharngadhara Samhitha 4. The description of Phiranga and sitala disease.
Period 13th cen. A.D.
Author Sharngadhara o Kasyapa Samhita
o Commentaries Mula upadesta Marica Kasyapa
Name Author Tantra karta Vrddhajivaka
Ayurvedadipika Rudra Bhatta Pratisamskarta Vatsya
Dipika Adhamalla No. of chapters 120 + 80 (Khila Sthana)
No. of sutras 7446

o Specialities o Specialities
1. It has 3 divisions (Purva, Madhya, Uttara), 32 chapters and 2600 1. Description of 5 hrdaya and sat kosa sarira.
slokas. 2. Astavidha sveda and Karnavedha are also described.
2. Nadi pariksa is described first in this book
3. The description of Trisma gutika (Haritaki + Sunthi + Guda)
3. The clinical use of Akarakarabha and bhanga have been started.
4. He has told aturalaya as aristagara and ahara as maha bhaisajya.
4. Ahiphena was first used in medicine
5. The saptavidha kasaya kalpana has been described.
5. Mechanism of respiration has been described.
6. He has told vardhamana pippali in the treatment of yaksma.
6. The definition of dipana & pacana etc. with examples is described.
7. Description of lasuna kalpa.
7. Snayu krmi has also been described.
8. Difference in Ausadha and Bhesaja.
8. He has told four types of Amavata.
9. Independent description of Pliha & Halimaka disease also seen.
10. He has described 64 types of sutika rogas.
Bhavaprakasa Nighantu
Period 1600 cen. A.D. 11. He has also described suktaka (Amlapitta) and the use of
navayasa in sotha.
Author Bhava Misra
Bhela Samhita time of Vagbhata t.e., in the eighth century. Alberuni mentions of a Nagarjuna
resident of the fort Daibhak near Somnath, who composed a book Rasayana.
Bhela was one of the six students of Atreya, alongwith Agnivesha. He According to him, this Nagarjuna lived about a hundred years before his
is said to have composed a treatise called Bhela Samhita. This was not trace- times. It appears, Natarjuna lived sometimes between the eighth and ninth
able for many centuries, but in the year 1880, a palm leaf manuscript of it, century A.D. Nagarjuna composed some other works also, which include
composed in Sanskrit but written in the Telugu script, was found in the Pal- Kakshaputa Tanim and Arogya Manjari. According to Dalhana, a commen-
ace Library at Tanjore. This manuscript, written about 1650, abounds in tator of Susruta, Nagarjuna reconstructed Susruta Samhita and added Uttara
mistakes and some of it has been disfigured beyond recognition. But what- tantra to it. Nagarjuna was quoted as an authority on rasayana by later au-
ever has survived gives evidence of the same ancient tradition as Charaka thors such as Vrinda and Chakrapani. Until the seventh and eighth centuries,
Samhita does. It has also eight divisions like the Charaka Bhela Samhita Ayurvedic drugs consisted mainly of vegetable products. Metals, such as
essentially corroborates what Charaka Samhita says. Occasionally, it differs iron, silver, tin and lead, were very sparingly used for medical purposes. Use
from it in some details. of metallic compounds particularly began with Nagarjuna and it increased
progressively.
Siddha Yoga Ayurveda Acharyas of Ancient India Humankind got ‘life of knowl-
Vrinda composed Siddha Yoga probably around 1000 A.D. This treatise edge’ through many Ayurveda practitioners. The knowledge is trans-
is a medico-chemical work which incorporates some of the material from ferred to present generation by ways of palm scripts and word of mouth
Charaka, Susruta, Vagbhata, Madhavakara and Nagarjuna. This became from Ayurveda masters to students.
very popular. A commentary called Kusumavali was written on it by Sri We can’t gather information about the life story of the thousands
Kanthadatta around fourteenth century A.D. The commentator states that of seers who spend their lives to nurture and spread the knowledge for
Sidha Yoga makes particular mention of the diseases prevalent in western the benefits of humankind. Ayurveda is ascribed a divine origin and the
India ; may be Vrinda belonged to that region. Siddha Yoga is in the nature
acharyas approached Ayurveda, medicines with religious fervor.
of a samgraha and follows the methods of Vagbhata and others and gives
a survey of the classical method of treatment. This is the first large treatise The divine handling of the knowledge must be one reason that
dealing with the prescriptions ; in it Vrinda prescribes mercury for internal Ayurveda was today made available to the whole humankind.
use. Siddha Yoga of Vrinda was considered to be very important treatise. Acharyas like Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Atreya, Bhavamisra
It was among the books translated into Arabic. etc don’t claim Ayurveda started with them. In fact they generally
acknowledge Ayurveda practice of many other seers who lived before
Rasaratnakara them and their contemporaries.
It deals with the preparation and use of metallic compounds, more We know about these acharyas, because of the texts they have
particularly of mercury (rasa). It describes certain recipes in which vegetable written or because of other texts that mention their names and works.
or animal products are used to transform other metals into compounds which
look like gold and could be passed off as gold. These compounds, particu- Bharadwaja -Ancient Ayurveda Acharyas
larly of mercury, were prepared and used in order to make the body Bharadwaja is one among the prominent personalities of Ayurveda
undecayable and strong. Rasaratnakara was written by Nagarjuna. From acharyas of ancient India. Some myths say Seer Bharadwaj received the
the internal evidence of this book, it appears, it is a work composed after the knowledge of life from Lord Indra for the benefit of humankind. He received
this knowledge of life as he was sent to the gods to learn a method to combat Susruta believed that one cannot be a complete vaidya (Ayurveda
illnesses and sufferings on earth by a group of seers. practitioner) without the complete knowledge of medicine and surgery. How-
The life stories of Bharadwaja are found in Matsya Purana, Hariwarsha ever, it may not be right to believe that Sushruta invented surgery or plastic
surgery. It might have been practiced by many physicians before him. It is
Purana etc.
possible that he just elucidated the details for the first time.
Atreya Acharya was a student of Bharajwaja. From Atreya acharya, Susruta was born in the family of Viswamitra, a prominent figure in
Agnivesha learned Ayurveda. Indian mythology. He practiced medicine and surgery under Divodasa
Vagbhata Dhanvantari. Surgeons of ancient India were called dhanvantareeyans,
because Lord Dhanvantary is believed to transfer the knowledge of
Vagbhata is known to Ayurveda students for the compilation of Charaka
surgery to humankind.
Samhita and Sushruta Samhita by Ayurveda Acharyas, Charaka and Sushruta
Susrutha also recommends giving wine to the person before
in his own words in the form of Astanga samgraha and Astangahridaya.
performing surgery. This wine gives numbness to the person and leaves
His attempt to make available the full knowledge of Ayurvedic knowl- the person insensitive to the operation.
edge is commendable. He lists in simple language, the methods of diagnosis,
medicine preparation, and treatment. Madhavacharya
Madhavacharya’s contribution to Ayurveda includes his inferences to
Vagbhata says in Astanga hridaya“idamagama sidhathval, Prathyaksha
pathology and diagnosis of diseases.
phala darsanal, Mantraval samprayoktavyam Na Meemamsyam
He lived in south India in 9th or 10th century AD. Madhavanidana is
Kathanchana:”
the authentic book that describes nidana or the diagnosis process of various
It means, this (Ashtangahridayam) is the collection of past experiences. diseases. Madhava described pathology, diagnosis, causes, symptoms and
Its use gives tangible results. So, like a mantra, utilize its power by constant conditions of various diseases.
meditation and use it with confidence
Jivaka (Jeevaka)
Sushruta Jivaka or Jeevaka is a much quoted name in the history and teachings
Sushruta can rightly be called the father of surgery and plastic surgery. of Ayurveda. The main reason can be Jivaka’s test, the test given by his
He practiced salya tantra (surgery) in 600 BC. Some researchers tell that teacher, Atreya Acharya on completion of his medicine studies. He, like other
Sushruta wrote his books somewhere between 400 BC and first century disciples of Atreya had to bring a herb or a leaf with no medicinal value.
AD. Even if the latter claim is taken into account, you can ensure that Sushruta Jivaka, could not find such a plant or a herb. However, it was only a mani-
is the first in the world to narrate a clear-cut process for surgery, with accu- festation of superior knowledge he had on the value of plants, herbs and all
rate details of the sastras (weapons) to use, which have striking similarities elements of nature.
with modern surgical equipments in every aspect. Buddhist texts have elaborate mentioning of Jivaka as the physician of
He clearly describes the method of doing plastic surgery on a nose, or Lord Buddha. Like sushruta, Jivaka also is believed to perform surgical pro-
an earlobe. The method of reconstruction of a mutilated nose from cheek cedures.
tissue is acceptable even today.
Charaka all the different branches of zoology and medicine – anatomy, embryology,
physiology, pathology, diseases, diagnosis, medicines, etc.
Charaka lived in India in third or second century BC. Charaka Samhita,
his book on Ayurvedic way of life and treatment has words of wisdom that He is also the first to explain several concepts appearing in ancient
modern researches and medical science accept after a gap of 2,000 years. Ayurvedic scripts. Bhavamisra studies medicine systems prevailed in other
He took the knowledge from Acharyas like Athreya and Agnivesa. countries like Persia and Sri Lanka.
Prevention is better than cure – this sentence can appear to be a cliché Atreya
today, but Charaka Acharya has told about the importance of lifestyle bal-
ancing for a healthy living more than 20 centuries ago. In his book, he details Atreya Acharya was the teacher of Agnivesh or Jeevaka (Jivaka) who
each and every aspect of leading a healthy life, eating healthy food, finding was the physician of Lord Buddha. Atreya had Ayurvedic education under
medicinal herbs when someone feels unhealthy or diseased, the quality of Bharadwaja. His original name was Punarvasu. Atreya means the son of
herbs occurring in the nature and its effect on human body. Atri. Atri, the sage is believed to live in India between 8th and 6th century
BC. Atreya Samhita, a collection of 46,500 verses on Ayurvedic concepts is
Charaka puts a direction for everyone who attempts to practice his work.
Ayurveda – a physician who is not capable of entering the body of a
person with the lighted lamp of knowledge cannot treat diseases. He is the first to describe six tastes – sweet, astringent, bitter, sour,
salty and pungent are the six tastes that humans experience. Each taste has
Charaka Samhita is the first Ayurvedic text that details the body specific effect on human body and characteristics.
types, the three doshas or tridosha. Charaka is also the first to describe
the processes of metabolism and immunity. Metabolism or digestion He classifies diseases as curable and incurable. He also directs the
and absorption of food can vary in persons of different dosha types. The practitioners to choose the patients to attend and not to.
same amount of food can give different levels of nourishment and He is the first to give a detailed description of diseases, its causes, and
energy to different persons. Identifying the physical type of a person is
cures. Atreya has also classified poisons and toxic substances.
thus the most important part of Ayurvedic treatment.
The cornerstone tridosha concept of Ayurveda is also a contribution
There are some differences of opinion about Charaka as a person. He of Atreya Acharya. Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata and other ancient Ayurveda
is believed to be the son of a nomadic sage. There are also counter opinions
practitioners got the basics from Atreya Acharya.
that Charaka is a group of Ayurvedic practitioners that traveled from one
place to another. They served with Ayurvedic treatment to people wherever Although no one can give an accurate picture of the origin of Ayurveda
they went. as a life science, the oldest available records of this complete science of life
and medicine runs to and ends at Atreya Acharya.
Bhavamisra
Bhavamisra or Bhava Misra was an Ayurvedic practitioner lived in o Some milestones in the Development of Ayurveda
16th century AD. His contributions to Indian medicine include his compila- Divine origin of Ayurveda from Lord Brahma - Dates back to
tion of vast treatise by Bhava Prakasa. The compilations have reference to origin of human race
Mention of various references on Health, Diseases and Medicinal Plants
in Rig-veda and Atharv-veda- 5000 BC Implementation of Central Scheme of assistance for strengthening of
Origin of Attreya and Dhanwantari School of Ayurveda-1000 BC State Drug Testing Laborites and Pharmacies- 2000-2001
Documentation of Charaka Samhita -600 BC Exhibition and presentation of Ayurveda during World Health Assem-
Documentation of Sushruta Samhita- 500 BC bly, Geneva- 2001
Enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act for Ayurvedic/Siddha/Unani Presentation on evidence based support by Deptt. of ISM&H before
medicines-1940 House of Lords, U.K. against Sir Walton Committee’s Report on status
and nomenclature of Ayurveda among Complementary and Alternative
Bhora Committee or Health Survey and Development Committee
recognised past services of indigenous medicines but failed to rec- systems of Medicine – 2001
ommend for its further development.-1943 Participation of Deptt. in “Made in India” exhibition organized by
Chopra Committee recommended systems of old and modern sys- CII in South Africa-2001
tems of medicines to evolve a common system of medicine.-1946
Recommendation of Dave Committee for uniform standards of
Ayurveda education-1955
Udupa Committee set up. It recommended that there is a need for inte-
grated system of medicine and a training course in Siddha and Ayurveda-
1958
Amendment of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for Indian systems of
medicines/drugs-1964
Establishment of Central Board of Siddha and Ayurvedic Education-
1964-65
Constitution of Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) under IMCC
Act- 1970 for regulation of education and practice –1971
Establishment of Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha
(CCRAS)-1978
Establishment of National Academy of Ayurveda (Rashtriya Ayurveda
Vidyapeeth)-1989
Implementation of IEC( Information, Education & Communication)
Scheme for NGOs for propagation and popularization of Ayurveda &
other systems-1998-1999
Introduction of Vanaspati Van Scheme for large scale cultivation of
Medicinal Plants-1999