JIVAKA Foot prints of ancient healers of children

Kashyapa samhita or � Vriddhajivakia Tantra

1. Malavika Kapur
National Institute of Advanced Studies
Bangalore 560 012
[email protected]

2. Branches of Ayurveda
1. Kayachikitsa: Internal Medicine
2. Shalya Tantra: Surgery
3. Shalakya Tantra: E.N.T.
4. Striroaga/ Balachikitsa: Obg / Gyn / Paed
5. Jarachikitsa / Rasayana Tantra: Geriatrics/
Immunology
6. VajikaranaTantra: Eugenics / Aphrodisiacs
7. Agadatantra / Damshachikitsa: Toxicology
8. Bhutavidya / Grahachikitsa: Psychological
Treatments
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3. Story of Kashyapa Samhita
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Sage Kashyapa observing through his divine
eye and with blessings of Brahma created it
for the benefit of mankind. Five year old
Jivaka, son of Richika, pious and free from
darkness, compiled and summarized it. The
other Sages did not approve of it as he was
only a child. As ordered by the ancient
scholars, pious five year old Jivaka immersed
himself in the Ganga of Kanakhala
(Haridwar)only to emerge with wrinkles and
grey hair. Amazed at this supernatural feat,
the Sages gave the him the title of Vridda
Jivaka.

4. Observation of Behaviour
of the Child
How does the physician get to know the
pain of children who cannot describe
their symptoms?
Whether mild or severe is known by mild or
severe crying.
Whichever body part hurts – the child
touches it and cries if it is touched.
Bites lips and tongue if having dysponea.
Closes fists and looks upward when there is
pain in the cardiac region.
Cries unnaturally with twisting of mouth if
there is pain all over the body.
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5. Treatment of Nursing Mother
(Mother / Wet Nurse)
Very extensive treatments given by Kashyapa.
Oh, Vridda Jivaka! In this world there are three kinds of prople who
have to perform difficult tasks.
1.The physician (paediatrician)
2.The wet nurse
3.The child
All the three suffer same pains and pleasures.
The physician treating a child is always in trouble as he has
a difficult job despite the use of simple treatment.
The mother / wet nurse suffers as the wellbeing of the son
causes emaciation of her own body. Due to her love she
suffers a great deal. Thus there is a need for continuous
auspicious acts. 5

6. Samskaras (Rites of Passage)
Jathakarma-
Namakarana
Karnavedhana
Parikramana-
Annaprashana-
Chudana
Upanayana
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7. Triguna / Tridosha
and Samskaras
Inborn physical(Tridosha) & psychological(Triguna)
characteristics of the child
Mother and the infant are treated as a single unit
The child interacts at each point of time with a
samskara, social/religious ritual at each phase to
enhance appropriate development
Man as a product of the interaction between nature
and nurture( the five elements being common to
both)
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8. Disorders of Known Aetiology
1.Head ache (Child rolls the
head, closes eyes, moans
and becomes dull and
sleepless)
2.Ear ache
3.Diseases of the mouth
4.Pain in the throat / facial
palsy
5.Inflammation of epiglottis
6.Diseases of throat
7.Inflammation of throat
8.Fever
9.Diarrhea
10.Colic
11.Vomiting
12.Dyspnoea and hiccough
13.Thirst
14. Flatulence
15. Epilepsy and insanity
16. Urinary diseases
17. Diabetes
18. Piles
19. Vesicle calculus
20. Erysipelas
21. Cholera
22. Paralytic ileus
23. Dry / wet itching
24. Ama (Intestinal disorders)
25. Anemia
26. Jaundice
27. Wine intoxication
28. Coryza /Chest pain infections
29. Insect bite (Contd)
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9. Disorders of Unknown / Supernatural Aetiology
Signs, Dreams of Mother / Wet Nurse
1.Skanda Polioencephalitis
2.Skanda Pitr Respiratory Infection & Diarrhea
3.Pundarika -----
4.Revati Diar. & Dehy. & Anaemia &
Vitamin B Complex Deficiency
5. Suskarevati Koch’s Abdomen
6. Sakuni Impetigo
7. MukhamandikaIndian Childhood Cirrhosis
8. Andhaputana Diar. & Dehy. & Vitamin A Deficiency
9. Sitaputana Diar. & Dehy. & Hypocalcaemia
10. Kataputana -----
11. Putana Diar. & Dehy. & Hypocalcaemia
12. Naigmesa Meningitis
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Graharoga

10. Kashyapa samhita or
Vriddhajivakia Tantra
Between 5th and 12
th
Centuries
English Translation PV Tewari 2002
Out of the original 200 chapters, only 19 complete
chapters are available at present(690 pages)rest are
missing either at the beginning, the middle or the
end.
This treatise is supposed to be the preaching of Lord
Kashyapa and his disciple Vriddha Jivaka, the scribe.
With the lapse of time it was lost & was resurrected
by Vatsya who received it from a Yaksha named
Anayasa
The only copy was re-discovered in the present form
in 1938 by Rajaguru Sharma in Nepal.
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11. Malavika Kapur has authored a Book
http://www.vitastapublishing.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=319&category_id=16&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

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