A Concise History of Science in India c8.s2.t3.8

c8.s2.t3.8

A valuable work, specializing on the diagnostic aspect of medical knowledge, is due to Mādhavakara (eighth or ninth century) and is entitled *Rugviniścaya* or *Mādhava Nidāna*. It is a compilation from the earlier works of Agniveśa, Suśruta and Vāgbhaṭa, but its merit lies in its scientific selection of knowledge included, concise presentation, and as a valuable clinical guide. It is famous all over India as the best Āyurvedic work on diagnosis of diseases. Two commentaries on this work, *Madhukoṣa* by Vijayarakṣita and *Ātaṅkadarpaṇa* by Vācaspati, are also valuable aids to diagnosis. The *Gadanigraha*, a medical treatise by Ṣoḍhala (seventh century), *Ṣoḍhalanighaṇṭu*, a medical lexicon by the same author, *Siddhayoga* by Vṛndakuṇḍa (ninth century), and *Cakrasaṃgraha*, a valuable treatise containing quotations from earlier works by Cakrapāṇidatta (about A.D. 1050), are other important works on the Ātreya and Dhanvantari schools, containing also some information on inorganic medicines, written before A.D. 1200. Only a few of the Āyurvedic works listed above are available in printed editions, others being in the form of written manuscripts preserved in various collections in India and abroad. The descriptions and locations are to be found in Aufrecht’s Catalogue. Kavirāj Gananath Sen has made an assessment of the comparative merits of these different works.c