ANCIENT AYURVEDIC SECRETS. --- Charaka Samhita 1 (1) by Bharat Thakur - Yogi and Artist published on 2023-01-19T19:21:16Z Caraka Samhita 1 Major Contributions to Medical Science Caraka Samhita was a major landmark in the development of the science of life and healing in human history. Though it was put together as a ‘samhita’, a compilation by caraka, the ground work needed for this humungous body of work, was done many generations prior, when rsi atreya, organised a grand symposium of physicians, researchers and scholars, facilitated extensive discussions and debates following which all that emerged was accepted after exhaustive debate … and was put together as a compilation by his able student Agnivesa in the Agnivesa Tantra. Caraka, who came late in the downline, expanded on it and this compilation was called ‘caraka samhita’. caraka samhita for many thousands of years has been a job in progress and constantly updated by able masters of Ayurveda. Introduction ayurveda, the science of life, is regarded as one of the the branches of the Veda, as an ‘upaveda’ a stream of applied knowledge. ayurveda traditionally has 8 specialities kaayachikitsa - internal Medicine salya - surgery saalaalkhya - pertaining to diseases of the supra clavicular region kaumarabhrtya - paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology agaada tantra - toxicology bhuta vidya - pertaining to microorganisms and extra sensory entities rasayana - promotive and age reversal therapy vajjikarana - pertaining to aphrodisiacs Out of these eight, 2 evolved to a great extant, making them two distinct schools, the school of medicine and the school of surgery. The school of medicine was systematised and elaborated by Caraka while the same was done by Susruta for the school of surgery. caraka samhita The caraka samhita has eight sections or ‘sthana’ 1. sutra sthana - Fundamental principles 2. nidana sthana - Diagnostic principles 3. vimana sthana - Section on specific medical principles 4. sharir sthana - Section on human being genesis 5. indriya sthana - Sensorial prognosis 6. chikitsa sthana - Therapeutic principles 7. kalpa sthana - Pharmaceutical preparations 8. siddhi sthana - Therapeutic procedures Bharat Thakur Ref: Charaka Samhita, P V Sharma, Chaukhamba Orientalia, Varanasi Genre Learning