Literary research in Ayurveda

• Dr. K. Murali • Professor• Department of Kayachikitsa• Govt. Ayurveda College• Tripunitura-682 301 • muralivaidyaka@yahoo.com

Types of research

• Basic • Clinical • Pharmacological • Literary

Literary research

• Primary- with specific aims & objectives

• Secondary- prior to other studies

Need of literary research

• Retrieval of lost information • Elucidation of concepts• Identification of scientific methodology • Identification of the area of research • Integrative

Need of literary research

• Identification of research topic• Important variables• Information on what is already done• Contextualising the current work• Understanding the theoretical concepts and

terminology• Preparation of bibliography and references• Anticipation of problems in the research

Ayurvedic literature

• Large collection of literature• Commentaries- Sanskrit& other languages • Different schools• Regionalities

Sources

• Agama• Easy sources- texts, commentaries,

translations, references• Rare sources- palm leaf mss, paper mss, books

that are out of print.• Secondary sources as compilations-correlative

studies-critical studies • Modern sources- internet-

Other sources

• Ancient sources:-• Vedic literature, Post Vedic literature • Modern sources:-• Current books, photocopies, scanned

materials, internet, research journals • Archeological sources:-• Excavations, inscriptions, mss.

Sources

• Primary- texts & commentaries-compodiums-inscriptions

• Secondary- journals articles, books monographs, handbooks, translations

requirements

• Sound knowledge of Sanskrit• Sound knowledge of

English/Hindi/reg.languages• Skill to interpret• Training in manuscriptology

Development of skill

• Continuous study• Referring other knowledge systems • Sharing the knowledge • Meeting senior experts

Steps in literary research

• Identification• Collection• Compilation• Summation• Analysis & conclusion

Steps in lit. research

• Aims & objectives• Hypothesis• Defining concepts• Working definitions• Collection & analysis• Integration

Methods of interpretation

• Pada-ccheda • Padartha- dictionaries,

context• Vigraha • Vakyayojana • Akshepa-samadhana

• Upotghata• Padaccheda• Padartha • Padavigraha• Chaalana• Pratyavasta

Need of Interpretation

• Application• Debates• Teaching, higher learning

Why interpret?• Inadequacies of language

• Conciseness

• To redact

• To reject misinterpretation

• For consensus

Why interpret?

• Elucidation of concepts• To explain the rationale• Preservation of original texts• Preservation of different versions

Ideal Text

• arthabahulam• trividha sishya budhi hitam• aarsham• supraneeta sutra bhashya samgraham• svadharam• lakshanavat udaharanavat• Jnapana samartham

Commentarial literature in ayurveda

• Charakasamhitha-40Charakanyasa charakapanchaika nirantarapada ayurvedadipika tatvachandrika jalpakalpataru charakopaskara charakapradipika

Susruthasamhitha-18Jaijati nyayachandrika prasnavidhana bhanumati

nibandhasamgraha susrutarthasamdipana

Commentarial literature in ayurveda

• Ashtangahridaya-44• Sasilekha sarvangasundari anvayamala pathya

brihatpathya hridya hridayabodhini vakyapradipika lalitha padarthakaumudi

Commentaries

• Merits• Demerits

Significance of commentaries • Continuing process

• Representation of regional adaptations

• More clinical interpretation

• Identification of drugs

• Study of history

Interpreting ayurvedic texts

• kanadam panineeyam cha sarvasastropakarakam

• tantrayukti

Tantrayukti

• Tantra- knowledge system,text• Yukti- correlating the verses with appropriate

meaning

TANTRAYUKTIvakyayojana arthayojana

Tantrayukti

• Asadvaadi pratishedha

• Leenokti prakasha

• Vyatyaasokti prakasha

• Lesokti prakasha

Tantrayukti- a review

• Contextual references• adhikarana• ateetapeksha• anaagataapeksha• prasanga

Tantrayukti- a review

• Exopositional nature• svasamjna• vyaakhaana• nirdesha• uddesha• nidarshana• nirvachana• apadesha

Tantrayukti- a review

• Coinciding with pramana• arthapathi• uhya• sambhava• upadesha

Tantrayukti- a review

• Pertaining to vada• purvapaksha• anumata• nirnaya

Tantrayukti- a review

• Giving options• Samsaya• Vikalpana

Tantryukti- a review

• Elucidating implied meaning• yoga• hetvartha• padaartha• vaakyasesha• prayojana

Tantrayukti- a review

• Arriving at consensus• anekantha• pradesha• vidhana

Tantrayukti- a review

• Reaching conclusions• ekantha• upadesha

Trantrayukti

• Eventhough Trantrayukties can be used in all the technical literature it is mostly used in ayurveda.

• Trantrayukties are not only the means of interpretation, but they have to be considered in the composition of a treatise.

Manuscriptology

• Collection• Preservation• Study• Deciphering• Editing• Publishing

Shorea robusta C. F. Gaertn

Taalapatra

Preservation of manuscriptstailaat rakshet jalaad rakshet rakshet shitila bandhanaath|murka-haste na daatavyam evam vadati pusthakam

Preservation of manuscripts

Ancient techniquesUsing of nimba patra, peacock feather, sarpa nirmuka etc in between the papers.2. Keeping in air tightened wooden box.3. vacha & karpoora are tied in a small a piece of cloth and kept in the boxes etc.

Preservation of manuscripts

• Sufficient light & air circulation• Avoid direct sunlight or artificial light• Pesticides• Fumigation• Naphthalene tablets• Lemon grass oil• Termite control

National Manuscript Mission

• February 2003• Ministry of Tourism and Culture Government of India Aims:- to locate, document, preserve and render these accessible

to connect India's past with its future, its memory with its aspirations