Janapadodhvansa (also spelled as janapadodhvamsa) means destruction of communities due to a common cause. The affliction of diseases in society disrupting the physical, psychological, social health of community is phenomenon observed since inception of life on the earth. The pandemic and epidemic situations are considered to be as old as human evolution. Ayurveda texts have thus also extensively mentioned the pandemic conditions at various places commonly referred to as janapadodhvansa, maraka or janamara. Acharya Charak has explained the concept of janapadodhvansain vimana sthana of the treatise Charak samhita. The concept of janapadodhvansais thus reference point for the description of disease origin and spread in the population highlighting the principles of epidemiology in ayurveda.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Janapadodhvansa |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K. 1, Joglekar Aishwarya 2 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.3, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.4 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Department of Department of Samhita Siddhant, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, 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: | May 16, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.137 |
What is janapadodhvansa?
Janapadodhvansa is defined as a phenomenon in which a large population is inflicted with one particular disease irrespective of their prakriti (phenotype), ahara (dietary habits), dehabala (innate immunity and strength), satmya (behavioural habits and lifestyle) and sattva (mental conditions), vayasa (age group) (Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 3/6)
Etymology
Janapad refers to group of people/inhabitants or community while uddhwansa refers to the destruction of the community. Thus it is a condition where large group of people or entire community is destroyeddue to the natural or artificial phenomena.
Synonyms of janapadodhvansa
Janapadodhvansa is quoted as janamara by Acharya Bhela and Maraka by Acharya Sushrut (Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 6/19) indicating the prevalence of epidemics in those times as well.
Causes of janapadodhvansa
Two types of causes of origin of diseases (vyadhi-utpatti hetu) are described. Common aetiological factors (sadharana hetu) can produce diseases in almost all the beings (bahujana sadharana).Specific etiological factors (asadharana hetu) are personalized and differ from individual to individual. (Chakrapani on Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 3/3)Janapadodhvansa chapter deals with the common causes of disease occurrence in large community.
The four main environmental factors like vata (vitiated air or atmospheric factors), jala (vitiated water), desha (geographical factors or those related to vitiated land and soil resources), kaala (seasonal and climatic conditions)are focused to cause epidemic situations. (Cha. Sa Vimana Sthana 3/6). These can be summarized as given in the table below: (Table No. 1 – Entity causative of janapadodhvansa and its interpretation in present context)