Shastra
Ayurveda is the science of life as the traditional scientific system rendering holistic healthcare to the population.[1] It has the foundation of scientific principles (siddhanta, vada) contributing to the preventive and curative aspects of the health of every individual, like other relevant, contemporary, and recent sciences. It is thus necessary to understand Ayurveda by establishing it through the concept of shastra mentioned across the texts. Shastra is a branch of knowledge or classic, scripture, or science. [SAT-A.24][2] The three major texts (brihadtrayee), minor texts (laghutrayee), and contemporary ayurveda texts that fulfill the criteria can also be considered shastra. This article deals with the aspects of ayurveda to establish it as shastra or science contributing to the scientific descriptions and knowledge mentioned in the text.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Shastra |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K. 1, Joglekar Aishwarya 2 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.3 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Department of Samhita Siddhanta, D. Y. Patil College of Ayurved and research Centre, Pune, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | March 30, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.132 |
Etymology and derivation
Monnier Williams dictionary explains the term shastra as an instrument of directing or teaching, an order, command, rule, precept, institute ; religious or scientific treatise, any sacred book or composition of divine or standard authority (applicable even to the veda), and said to be of fourteen or even eighteen kinds, book, teaching, body of teaching.[3]
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines shastra as the sacred scriptures of Hinduism consisting of four text categories: shruti (vedic texts), smriti (codes of law handed down by memoriter or tradition), purana (a class of sacred works , sacred tales) and tantra (scientific work or doctrine).[4]
Shadbdakalpadruma elaborates the term shastra’ as ‘Shishyate anen’. It is called grantha, or vidya, and is said to be of 18 types.[5] Vishnupurana included ayurveda in 18 types of shastra, all believed to be originated from Lord Bramha. Sushruta has also rightly stated the ayurveda as upanga (section) of Atharvaveda written by Lord Bramha. [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 1/6]
Definition of shastra
Tarkabhasha defines shastra as a treatise or science which gives proper knowledge of pravritti (things to be followed) and nivrutti (things to be avoided).[6]
Dalhana has also enumerated a few definitions of shastra as given below: [Dalhana on Su.Sa. Sutra. Sthana 4/8]
- Rogan shaasati iti : Aid in or leads to the elimination of roga (diseases)
- Aarogya danena dharmartha kamadinam shaasanat va shastra: One which renders health and helps in achieving the dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desires) is termed as ‘shastra’.
- Maranat trayat iti : One which helps to overcome mishaps can also be termed as shastra. It helps to develop abilities to combat with day to day problems helping in survival.
Synonyms
Ayurveda, shakha, vidya, sutra, vidya, lakshana, tantra (Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana.30/31) (Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana.30/19), veda (Ayurveda is also termed as upaveda of Atharvaveda) (Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana.1, Dalhana on Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana.1/16, Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana.30/21)
The term “Tantra” is applied to shastra. Shalya tantra (surgery) is referred to as shastra. (Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana.1/22). Chikitsa (medicine) is also referred to as shastra. (Dalhana on Su.Sa.Uttar Tantra.65/1)
Importance of the concept of shastra
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References
- ↑ Patwardhan B. Bridging Ayurveda with evidence-based scientific approaches in medicine. EPMA J. 2014;5(1):19. Published 2014 Nov 1. doi:10.1186/1878-5085-5-19
- ↑ Sastra , Namaste Portal, Standardised Ayurveda Terminologies, Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat
- ↑ MONIER-WILLIAMS, M. (1872).Page No.1003 Available from https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=mw72&page=1003
- ↑ “Shastra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shastra. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.
- ↑ RĀDHĀKĀNTADEVA, VASU, V., & VASU, H. (1886).Śabdakalpadrumah, Available from https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=skd&page=5-068 Page No.68
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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