A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c34.69

v2.c34.69

¹⁸ Absent from Caraka- and Suśrutasaṃhitā, which describe measures intended to protect the child from bad influences (Ca.Śā.8.47: rakṣāvidhāna; Su.Śā.10.23: additional measures, to be found in Sū.19, i.e., the vraṇitopasānīya chapter, are referred to). The ritual described in the Hṛdaya may be related to the Ṣaṣṭhī cult (see Hilgenberg and Kirfel 519; J. Jolly, 1901: 59; C.G. Kashikar 72). The Kairalī remarks that the infant is particularly susceptible to an attack by the graha called Śakuni in the sixth night; Śivadāsa says that, according to general knowledge (lokaprasiddhi), children may be overpowered by a mātṛkā. Compare R.B. Inden and R.W. Nicholas (1977): 56–57; S. Stevenson (1971): 9–11.