Some Internal Diseases and their Medicines or Treatments as Reflected in the Atharvaveda
Author(s): Maumita Bhattacharjee
Abstract: Vedas are the store house of all kinds of knowledge.
Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda and
Atharvaveda are the oldest recorded documents on earth. They are not only a collection of religious text but also represent the various aspects of the ancient Indian civilization. Among the four Vedas, the medical topics have been dealt primarily in the
Atharvaveda. The Indian medical science recognizes the
Atharvaveda as its source. The
Atharvaveda is a curious treasury of medicine in its various stages of evolution.
Atharvaveda is a collection of spells which deals with diseases, demons and monsters, remedy of diseases, binding up of a vain, worms, jaundice, snakebite etc. These types of hymns of the
Atharvaveda are known as
Bhaiṣajyāni Sūktāni. This Veda identifies the causes of various diseases and a variety of incantations or plant-based drugs in order to counter the diseases. Charms to cure all these diseases are given in the
Atharvaveda and practice concerning these charms is given in the
Kauśikasūtra. In the
Atharvaveda, the early beginnings of an art of healing and knowledge of healing herbs are found. Several diseases like
Yakṣman, Takman, Jalodara, Kuṣṭha, Atisāra, Balāsa, Hariman, Kṛmi, Kilāsa, Palita, Apacit, Snake bite etc. are discussed in the
Atharvaveda. This paper is an effort to present some internal diseases and their medicines as reflected in the
Atharvaveda.
Pages: 131-137 | Views: 1018 | Downloads: 658Download Full Article: Click HereHow to cite this article:
Maumita Bhattacharjee. Some Internal Diseases and their Medicines or Treatments as Reflected in the Atharvaveda. Prācyā. 2015; 7(1): 131-137.
