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Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c4: Preface by the Translator

Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c4

Language
English

Preface by the Translator

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The author of the original work did not write any preface to his book. This translation is the outcome of a study of Āyurvedic literature as an offshoot of the study of the Vedic literature. Having shown some interest in the study of Medicine in the Vedic literature, I was asked to deliver lectures on the history of Āyurvedic literature at the Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Poona, during the years 1941-43. While studying this subject I found frequent references to Jolly's *Medizin* in works dealing with that subject. Having already obtained some knowledge of the German language, I read and translated for my own use the first chapter of that book and consequently translated the entire book. It was suggested to me later on that the translation, if published, would be useful not only to the students of the Indian medical science but also to the students of ancient Indian culture in general. In pursuance of this suggestion, permission to publish the English translation was secured. Having failed in my efforts to find out a publisher for the same, I myself undertook its publication with the co-operation of the authorities of the Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Poona.

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Dr. Jolly's *Medizin* forms part of the series of the *Encyclopaedia of Indo-Aryan Research* (Vol. 3, part 10) founded by Dr. Bühler and continued by Dr. Kielhorn. The entire series was a solid contribution to the study and research of the various branches of ancient Indian learning and *Medizin* was no exception to the same. The book is a model of scientific study. Even though small in size, it is full of information so laboriously and skilfully compiled together, taking into account the entire literature on Medicine from the Vedas down to the Bhāvaprakāśa. It is a great compliment to the western scholarship that a Sanskrit scholar without any special knowledge of the medical science should produce such an authoritative and solid work on a practical science like the Āyurveda. No work of this nature has, so far as I know, been published in any Indian language. I firmly believe that this work will really prove very helpful for conducting research work in Āyurveda. There is much in western scholarship which we have still to learn. A historical approach as has been made in writing this book is a dire necessity for Āyurvedic research work—

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both literary and practical. In the case of a science like Āyurveda which has been lying in a stagnant condition for centuries together, the necessity is more keenly felt. The critical studies made by Dr. A. F. R. Hoernle with regard to the comparative chronology of the different portions of important works like the Carakasamhitā, Suśruta-samhitā and Mādhavanidāna etc. have yet to be followed in India. I hope the present translation will create enthusiasm for such studies at least among a few scholars in India. The studies published in English are accessible to Indian scholars; but that is not the case with those published in other languages like German and French. Notwithstanding the fact that some important work is still being done at certain European and American Universities in the field of India's ancient culture in general, I feel it is time that important works in those languages are translated into English or some modern Indian language for the benefit of our scholars. In this connection a special mention may be made of a recent work in French by Dr. Filliozat : *La Doctrine Classique de la Médecine Indienne : Ses origines et ses parallèles Grecs*.¹

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¹ A very brilliant Note in English entitled *Recent Research in Ancient Indian Medicine* has been written by Mario Bussagli in the *East and West* (Quarterly Review published by the Instituto par il Medio ed Estramo Oriente) Year 11, No. 3, October 1951, pp.147-50. It gives a short summary of the new facts brought out in the above-mentioned book of Dr. Filliozat as well as in the book of E. Benveniste : *La doctrine Medicale des Indo-Europeens*, *Revue de l'Histoire der Religions*, tome CXXX. It may also be noted that very recently Dr. R. G. Harshe of Poona delivered a series of lectures on the researches made by Dr. Filliozat at the Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Poona. A summary of these lectures is shortly to be published in the Marathi journal of the Mahavidyalaya.

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I have tried to make the translation as literal as possible, so much so that the idiom of the German language has often been preserved intact. The very beginning sentence of the first chapter will bear testimony to this. For this I crave the indulgence of the reader. Not being conversant with the medical science, I might not have used proper technical terms. While translating the work I have verified the references to Ayurvedic works and thus have been able to remove a few printing mistakes in the original book which otherwise would have remained incorrected. In the case of references to important works like the Caraka Samhitā, Suśruta Samhitā and Aṣṭāngahṛdaya, I have consulted the latest critical editions of the works and have modified the references accordingly. Extensive literature has been published since the publication of Prof. Jolly's work in 1901. I have, therefore, thought it fit to add bibliographical Notes with a view to bringing the book up-to-date. In giving these Notes I have tried to make a reference to as many editions of a work as came to my notice without, however, claiming to be comprehensive. The bibliographical Notes as given here do not cover the entire literature published in the field of Indian Medicine. Only such books and articles have been referred to in the Notes as were directly concerned with the subject matter of the main book. There is much that remains outside the scope of these Notes. For example, the papers dealing with the history of Indian plants written by Prof. P. K. Gode and others could not be mentioned because the main book gives only the general lines of treatment and does not go into the details. Certain clarifications and corrections were found to be essential and these have also found place in the Notes. In this connection I have derived some help from my Vaidya friends in Poona. At the end I have given a Sanskrit Index and a General Index which, though existing in the original work, had to be compiled anew. The supplementary Notes given by me have also been taken into account while compiling the indices. A thorough list of abbreviations has been given at the beginning mentioning the latest editions wherever possible. As a result of my study of recent works as recorded in the supplementary Notes, a large number had to be added to the original list. Types with diacritical marks to denote Sanskrit words have been used throughout except in a few cases where, it is hoped, the reading will not be found so difficult. The system of transliterating Sanskrit words has been given at the beginning for the convenience of the Ayurvedic readers in India who are generally not accustomed to it. This system is in vogue for a very long time in the field of Sanskrit and Oriental studies throughout the world and it is hoped Ayurvedists will make a point to adopt it whenever they have an occasion to write Sanskrit words in Roman characters.

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In spite of scrupulous care, a few errors have occurred in printing. These have been recorded in the errata and the reader is requested to rectify them accordingly before reading the book.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS :- I have now to do the pleasant duty of acknowledging the manifold help received by me with regard to the publication of this work. First of all, I must thank the proprietors of Messrs. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, for allowing me to publish my translation of Jolly's *Medicin*. I am grateful to Dr. J. Filliozat—a great scholar of philology as well as medical science, for obliging me with an enlightened Foreword to this book. His contributions to the knowledge of the history of the Indian medical science are of far-reaching effect and his conclusions, based of course on sound evidence, that the Indian science not only played a leading part in fixing the scientific thought of Asia, but also has left a mark on the scientific thought of ancient Greece and therefore of the West, will be widely appreciated. I deem it an honour to have a Foreword to my book by such a great scholar. In compiling the Notes I have made use of the writings of a number of scholars published during the last half century and I most gratefully acknowledge the debt due to them. To the authorities of the Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Poona, I am indebted in many ways. As already said, the opportunity given to me by them to teach the history of Āyurvedic literature was entirely responsible for my study of this subject. In this connection, I bow to the memory of the late Āyurvedācārya Purushottamashastri Nanal—the moving spirit of the Mahāvidyālaya, who had commendable organising capacity and great enthusiasm for the uplift of Āyurveda. Moreover, the Mahāvidyālaya facilitated the publication of this book by printing a number of pages of this translation in their journal "Āyurvidyā." I have especially to express my thanks to my friend Vaidya B.V. Gokhale, Āyurvidyā Pāramgata, Principal of the Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Poona, for his keen interest in the work and for reading the entire press-copy and making very useful suggestions and also for reading the proofs. I must also thank Shri D. S. Marathe, B. A., LL. B., Poona, for revising my translation of the German text. To Dr. V. V. Gokhale, B. A., Dr. Phil. (Bonn) I am thankful for his keen interest in the publication of this work and also for his valuable help in regard to the revision of the translation. I also acknowledge with thanks the help rendered by Vaidya K. V. Kulkarni, Āyurvidyā Pāramgata, Vaidya N. V. Bhave, Āyurvidyā Pāramgata, Vaidya S. G. Vartak, Āyurvidyā Visārada and Dr. M. P. Joshi, L. C. P. S.—all of the Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Poona. I cannot forget the interest taken in this book and the guidance given from time to time by my esteemed friend Prof. P. K. Gode, M. A., Curator of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona. He has also rendered material help in reading the proofs and has also obliged me by writing an Appreciation of the work. I gladly acknowledge the encouragement and help given by my honoured friend Dr. R. N. Dandekar, Hon. Secretary of the Bhandarkar O. R. Institute. I express my heart-felt thanks to him. To Dr. R. G. Harshe, B. A. ( Tilak ), D. Litt. (Paris) of the Deccan College Institute, Poona, I express my thanks for his help in rendering some French passages into English. Dr. C. G. Pandit, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, was kind enough to read a few printed pages of the translation and to express his appreciation of the same. I offer him my best thanks. I must also acknowledge the help given by my friend Shri J. S. Tilak, B. Sc., Editor of "Kesari", Poona. Last, but not least, I must thank Mr. M. D. Gurjar, B. Sc., proprietor of the Ayurvidya Mudranalaya, Poona, for printing the book in a satisfactory manner.

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Lastly, I shall consider my labours amply compensated if this translation proves useful to the advance of research in Ayurveda even to the smallest extent.

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Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala, Poona 2 (India). 28th October, 1951 Dhanvantari Day, Samvat 2007. } C. G. KASHIKAR

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