A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c9.17

v1.c9.17

It deals with the following subjects: the five types of this disease: caused by vāta, pitta, kapha, all three doṣas together, and exogenous factors (āgantu) (7.3);94 the persons in whom insanity may arise when the excited doṣas go to the heart and obstruct the channels carrying the manas (7.4);95 a definition of unmāda (7.5);96 the prodromes (7.6);97 the symptoms of insanity caused by vāta, pitta, kapha and all three doṣas simultaneously (7.7);98 the treatment of the three curable types (caused by one doṣa) (7.8–9);99 the exogenous type, basically caused by errors in judgment (prajñāparādha), but aggravated due to possession by gods, demons, etc.;100 the prodromes of possession (bhūtonmāda); the ways in which it is initiated (ārambhaviśeṣa);101 its symptoms; the circumstances making one susceptible to possession (abhighātakāla); the three objectives (prayojana) of beings who may induce possession: hiṃsā (violence), rati (pleasure), abhyarcana (worship);102 treatment (7.10–16); combinations of endogenous and exogenous insanity (7.18); insanity is always the result of one’s own deeds and should not (primarily) be attributed to (possession by) gods, demons, etc. (7.19–23).103