INDIAN CULTURE AND HEALTH

Dr Suvarna Nalapat

G.N.Devy

“ A culture’s selfawareness in terms of its law , Medicine and Grammer is an important precondition for awareness of its aesthetics. knowledge of Medicine-A system of management of pain, anaesthesia, of birth and death- is interrelated to poetry ,- a system of management of pleasure , aesthetics and of creation.”

The oldest gene (DNA) so far analysed from South India

cavemen, wandering nomads, settlers in agricultural villages , urban settlements

Mahagarh period -7000-8000 BC Harappan,Indus valley periods-4000-

3500-urban phase is postvedic -evidences for Vasthuvidya and Yajna fireplaces .

Postvedic Urban India Townplanning The great bath-purification Granary –Nutrition, food production,

storage Protected trees on

seals-tree/forest/nature Taxonomy , physiology, pharmacopoeia Children-toys, Yoga- Psychology, mental

health Dancing girl- Anatomy, dance, music

Pasupathi

Postvedic Urban science and arts Seals show Yoga, Language

(Sapthamathruka/Swara ), music with Saraswathi.

Oushadi/Vanaspathi tree worship-Prakrithi

Fertility – the Devi within a Womb shaped tree with leafs similar to Banyan tree – Aswatha

Somayaga rite –Indra singing Soma hymns to Devi

Kanmada, use of arsenic,Cu metallurgy –Alchemy

Brahmi

Maithreya Kapila Thriguna and Thridosha Nutritional concepts Famine: roots , tubers and biodiversity of

the land Chenchu tribes : Gaddha, magachiri or

Magashree

Sreechakra /Trefoil

Margasheershakanda. Nallamala – Bhoochakragandha/kanda. Kadappa- Dharigummad; Adilabhad Nelagummadhi; Sanskrit Bhookooshmaandi,Vrishavardhini

Fabaceae (bean) family Penvaria tuberose. All over India near forest streams mountain slopes blue inflorescence three forked leaf (sreevalsa /trefoil) .

Chenchu tribes Good nutrient , routine consumption.

Increase fertility-for infertility treatment Increase urine flow and remove toxins Increase breast milk for throat pain, harsh voice , anaemia,

jaundice, blood disorders swellings on body

Tropical biodiversity

Ayurveda-oldest living healing technique

Inherent capacity to interact with any other branch of science.

“An accumulated wisdom and practical experience of several generations of forestdwelling and wandering tribes of Indian subcontinent .”

Prathisamskaara : Charaka Process of evolution of science

Indian Lifestyle

Daily baths, Cleaning house and premises, quarantine of impure /infected persons for prevention of diseases, fasting for cleansing digestive system on prescribed days, prescribed special foods on special occasions (like festivals) seasonal foods /the earth produce what is needed for the children at specified times

Contribution of kerala

Mooshakavansakavya –Kuteechaka First pharmacopeia and morphological

classification came from Itty Achuthan and it was after this Linnaeus made his famous work . India taught science to the world .

Uty of valabhi Prof MGS:-when Nalanda and Udandapuri

fell in 10th century AD Ayurveda withered as a scientific branch of study.

Yoga lifestyle psychological,cognitive health

Grahana cognition. Grahabaadha-maladies in cognition. split personalities, self torture , guilty consciousness

Caraka :Thridosha and thriguna imbalance –imbalance of mind .

yogasadhana which sustains a sathwik state of mind prevent emotional deviations through control of senses/mind and defy temptations from outside .

Music for body,mind,intellect and Soul

Seasonal raga for chakra . Physical,mental intellectual ,spiritual -simultaneously.

North and South Indian Chakra –Samayachakra, RithuRaga and Melakartharaga for each chakra –

Cosmic and bioenergy plexuses Harvest and sowing with music,dance Festival Group Bhajana and Individual Nada

Upasana

savaasana

Padmaasana

Susrutha oath: Guru test disciple for ability to undergo

course .Only after oath allowed into temple , where the university/Gurukula functions .

Sama, dama,Yama, niyama . Suchi(sudhi), prathigna, sacred

pilgrimage to the hill temples in Hemantha and sisira seasons (prathikrama/parushan parva) upavaasa .

Panchadharma: Ahimsa,sadhaarmikabhakthi,kshamaaap

ana,upavaasa,chaityaparipathi. Swapnamaanavaka: the student

learning dreams ( Before Freud and Jung ). Anatomy and dissection

Surgery :Poorvakarma, pradhaanakarma and paschaathkarma (preoperative,operative and postoperative)

Doctors and nurses (paricharaka) :

Noble profession. youth who enter should be noble , healthy in body , mind and intellect , interested in learning , patient in words and deeds with a happy countenance and communication skill

Control of senses, mind , courage, patience, kindness, purity of character , concentration , intellectual faculties, memory , power of observation

GuruTeaching skills, impartial to all life

(advaitha), knows all other branches of sciences wholistically , and integrate to Ayurveda .

The disciple after learning from such a Guru , by own study and observation, research, discussions from colleagues, learned people increase knowledge (soo:4.3-8) .

Paricharaka-Nursing care

If client is a female paricharika should be a female too ( soo 34.12 ) .

Medical universities had both women and men as students , doctors and nurses . before using the science on clients independently the student has to go through a test in a sabha/Rajyasabha of scholars from different regions and disciplines .

Licencing ,Accreditation

This licencing and permission makes him a Vaidya for public . But after that a lifetime study , furthering experiences and discussions needed for getting the acclaim from the public ( soo 4.6-7) and this happens only when he becomes old and a Guru in his own rights .

Modern concepts

Multispeciality Hospitals with all facilities unapproachable to common /middle class people . Not a costeffctive , peopleoriented approach .

Environment pollution, no sewage facilities, cleanliness not practiced-new diseases and infections resistant to treatments

Pure water supply and Town planning with proper care for purity of premises and atmosphere . A comparison of Life styles of ancient and modern .

Enlightened citizenship of health professionals – Ancient India

Life is an art and science becomes art when linked to life . Let us link science to life and live and enjoy the art of life. THANK YOU .

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