Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c8.16

c8.16

The religious conception of pathology going back to the oldest times according to which diseases are a result of sins committed in previous births, is represented in a decisive manner by *Jñānabhāskara*¹⁸ a comprehensive work (cf. §§ 15. 38). After an introduction important for proving the Greek origin of later astronomy, it describes in detail the diseases from the stand-point of Karmavipāka and prescribes penances, sacrifices and gifts that are necessary for it. An old MS of this work is written in 1500. The works on Karmavipāka e. g. the *Sāragrahakarmavipāka*¹⁹ composed in 1384, belong more to the domain of Dharmaśāstra and are connected with the corresponding teachings of Smrtis. The author of *Virasimhāvaloka*²⁰ (Bombay 1888) says that he deals with three sciences viz. law, astronomy and medicine, but the emphasis is laid on medicine. The author of this work is Virasimha a prince of the well known Rajput clan and the founder of a dynasty in Gwalior in 1375; he wrote the work in 1383.