A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c8.70

v1.c8.70

Kuśa Sāṃkṛtyāyana enumerates the six qualities of vāta. 165 Kumāraśiras Bharadvāja agrees and adds that vāta is excited by substances and actions with similar qualities. Kāṅkāyana, the physician from Bāhlīka, explains that pacification of excited vāta is brought about by factors with opposite qualities. Baḍiśa Dhāmārgava discusses the way in which vāta is affected by these aggravating and alleviating factors. Vāryovida talks about the normal functions of vāta, the afflictions it brings about in the human organism when excited, and the normal and abnormal actions of vāta in the external world, adding observations on Vāyu as a deity, who is identical with Yama, Prajāpati, Aditi, Viśvakarman and Viṣṇu. Marīci asks Vāryovida how this knowledge can be applied to medical practice. Vāryovida replies that a correct understanding of the normal and abnormal actions of vāyu enables a physician to give sound advice to his patients. Marīci objects that pitta is the main agent in health and disease. Kāpya brings forward that kapha is mainly responsible for normal and abnormal states of the human organism.