A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c26.s2.94

v1.c26.s2.94

The same scholar collected evidence in support of the more specific thesis that Vāgbhaṭa belonged to the community of the Bhāgavatas.260 He points to the important position of Narasimha, exemplified by the medicated ghee called narasimhaghrta, which is said to make one’s body resemble that of Narasimha; someone taking this drug regularly will remain free from disease, because all ailments flee from him, like Asuras in fear of Narasimha with his flaming discus (A.h.U.39.172–173).261 The veneration for Viṣṇu, attested in a number of passages, is adduced in support,262 as is the enumeration of auspicious objects the physician may observe on his way to the patient.263 The Bhāgavata features detected in the Hṛdaya by R. Śāstrī are of importance to him because he wants to place Vāgbhaṭa in the later Gupta age, a period in which Bhāgavatism flourished.264