Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Kalpa Sthana is a vital part in Ayurveda treatises, primarily Brihat Trayi – the higher trio – Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya / Ashtanga Sangraha.
Kalpa Sthanas of Charaka and Sushruta Samhita are extensively adopted for medical observe however their means of presentation and the whole contents of Kalpa Sthana of each these praised treatises are completely totally different.
On this article we will take a look at these variations in presentation and content material of the Kalpa Sthanas of each these treatises.
Kalpa Sthanas of Charaka and Sushruta Samhita – a differential look into the sections
Content material
The content material of Kalpa Sthanas of Charaka and Sushruta Samhita itself is completely totally different. There’s nothing widespread in them besides the title of the part ‘Kalpa Sthana’.
Acharya Charaka has devoted the Kalpa Sthana part to clarify the herbs helpful in Vamana – therapeutic emesis and Virechana – therapeutic purgation therapies. He additionally has defined intimately about –
– The locations wherein these herbs can be found,
– Technique of assortment, purification and preservation,
– Medicinal properties,
– Mode of motion in effecting vamana or virechana,
– Therapeutic results in numerous illnesses,
– Varied formulations and dosage kinds that may be ready from these herbs – like juices, decoctions, confections, powders, and many others.
Acharya Sushruta has on the opposite facet devoted the Kalpa Sthana part of Sushruta Samhita to clarify numerous varieties of Visha – poisons. The whole part appears to be devoted to one of many eight elite branches of Ayurveda – Damstra Chikitsa or Visha Chikitsa – toxicology. He has defined intimately about –
– Indicators of the one who poisons meals and many others of the king,
– Indicators of various supplies which have been poisoned,
– Function of royal doctor in figuring out the supplies poisoned and individuals who poison them and in defending the king,
– Qualities of poison,
– Varieties of poisons – sthavara – plant and mineral origin, jangama – animal origin and dusi visa – weak poisons
– Therapy rules and recipes for treating the poisons and use of several types of Agada – anti-poisonous medicines
– Snake, scorpion, spider, insect chew poisons, their indicators and signs and remedy
You will need to observe that Acharya Sushruta has defined herbs helpful in vamana and virechana in chapter 43 and 44 of Sutra Sthana respectively.
Placement within the treatise
In Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana has been positioned between Chikitsa Sthana (earlier part) which offers with remedy of illnesses and Siddhi Sthana (following part) which primarily offers with description of Vasti – enema remedies and totally different formulations helpful for enema remedy.
In Sushruta Samhita, it’s technically the final part of the treatise however since we even have Uttara Tantra because the final part, Kalpa Sthana is positioned between Chikitsa Sthana (earlier part) and Uttara Tantra (following part) which offers with illnesses of the eyes, nostril, mouth, ears and scalp and different well being associated matters.
Variety of chapters
Acharya Charaka has devoted twelve chapters of discussing the herbs and their recipes associated to vamana and virechana therapies. He has enumerated six vamana herbs and their formulations within the first six chapters. The subsequent six chapters are devoted to 9 herbs that are helpful in virechana remedy. In whole, 600 recipes involving these 15 herbs are defined to be used in vamana and virechana therapies.
Acharya Sushruta has devoted eight chapters for devoted rationalization of assorted varieties of poisons, poisoning, their signs and analysis and their normal and particular remedies.
Abstract of the dialogue
Charaka and Sushruta Samita – each have Kalpa Sthana as a bit however the content material of those sections and the give attention to what must be included therein varies between these treatises.
Whereas Charaka has defined Vamana and Virechana Yogas within the 12 chapters of his Kalpa Sthana, Sushruta has defined intimately concerning the poisons and devoted his Kalpa Sthana to the examine of toxicology.
Acharya Charaka has devoted twelve chapters for explaining 600 yogas of vamana and virechana whereas Acharya Sushruta briefly enumerates the vamana and virechana herbs and their recipes in simply two chapters of Sutra Sthana.
However, we additionally want to look at that Acharya Charaka has elaborated the vamana and virechana yogas and devoted a bit for a similar however he has not devoted a complete part for rationalization of Visha – poisons. Equally, Acharya Sushruta has elaborated the poisons and devoted a complete part to the Visa – poisons however has not devoted a separate part for rationalization of vamana and virechana yogas.
The explanations for this gross distinction might embrace the beneath talked about elements
The artwork and styling, the modifying, placement and presentation of the sections in each Samhitas is totally different. Clearly, the content material of every part and the chronology of chapters or content material is not going to match up.
The precedence of inserting every chapter or specific content material, the why, the place, how and logics of doing the identical differs as a result of totally different thought processes of the Acharyas, the necessities of the Samhita, the time interval wherein they had been written, composed and edited or revised, or redacted, the evolution of Samhitas, the variety of authors concerned in reediting course of over the timeline of evolution, the writing tradition and what was trending in these occasions and the college and tradition of studying of each Sampradayas.
From this angle, each Acharyas have defined Vamana and Virechana Yogas however in numerous sections and in numerous magnitudes. Each have defined about Visha however in numerous sections and in numerous magnitudes. They had been finished in response to one’s fashion of writing and one’s time interval.
It additionally factors out another factor. Since Charaka Samhita is a predominant ‘Kaya Chikitsa’ tradition of drugs, they wanted extra Vamana and Virechana recipes for treating the final and systemic illnesses which they predominantly handled. They most likely didn’t cope with lots of instances of poisoning and therefore there was no want for elaborate dialogue concerning the Visas and their administration. A variety of analysis was finished to organize as many vamana and virechana recipes as doable to play to their power and therefore got here their documentation with dedication in a complete Kalpa Sthana Part of Charaka Samhita.
The identical rule can be true for Sushruta Samhita. It’s a predominant ‘Shalya Chikitsa’ tradition of drugs. They most likely handled extra instances of poisons and poisoning and their tradition of drugs mastered and developed an experience of the identical. They too wanted vamana and virechana recipes for treating many situations and likewise for treating poisons, however most likely they selectively used the identical and therefore solely two devoted chapters for a similar can be found in Sutra Sthana and a whole part was not devoted for a similar. A variety of analysis was finished to review the poisons and discover their remedies and therefore got here their documentation with dedication in a complete Kalpa Sthana Part of Sushruta Samhita.
To Conclude
Each Acharya Charaka and Sushruta have defined Vamana-Virechana Yogas and Visa, however in numerous sections and in numerous magnitudes, relying on what they mastered and often used of their tradition of observe.