A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c21.98

v1.c21.98

GĀRGYA takes part in the meeting of sages in the opening chapter of the Carakasaṃhitā. He is mentioned in the same context in the first chapter of the Bhāvaprakāśa, where, moreover, Garga is present, whose name is not found in the list of the Carakasaṃhitā. Ḍalhaṇa (ad Su.Sū.1.3) states that he, along with some other sages who are known as specialists in śālākya, is by some regarded as a pupil of Dhanvantari. In the Kāśyapasaṃhitā (Si.2.11) he expresses the view that a clyster (basti) can be given to children from the day they are born. The Hārītasaṃhitā (pariśiṣṭādhyāya 9) mentions a medical Gārgīsaṃhitā. A MS of the Ātreyasaṃhitā, probably containing some version of the Hārītasaṃhitā, also mentions a medical treatise called Gārgī.³²² The Kalyāṇakāraka refers to Gārgya as being opposed to a non-vegetarian diet. In Pālakāpya’s *Hastyāyurveda* Gārgya is one of the sages at Romapāda’s court who want to be instructed in the medicine of elephants. The same treatise (IV.4) relates that in his opinion semen (*śukra*) and brain tissue (*mastiṣka*) do not belong to the group of fatty substances to be employed in medicine; in this he contradicts Pālakāpya. A medical *Gārgyasaṃhitā* is said to have formed part of the library of Kavīndrācārya.323