A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c42.s12.36

v3.c42.s12.36

More evidence concerning the date of Vātsya's revised version of the Kāśyapasaṃhitā can be collected only from its contents. The references to Jainism³³⁴ and Buddhism³³⁵ are not of much avail for chronological purposes. Hinduism prevails in the work. The type of Hinduism of which the Kāśyapasaṃhitā gives evidence is in favour of dating it to the Gupta period.³³⁶ In support of this are the Tantric elements present: Bhadrakālī is mentioned (180; laśunakalpa 108); Tantric mantras are employed;³³⁷ the mātaṅgī vidyā is referred to (199–200; Revatīkalpa 80);³³⁸ the Siddhas should be honoured by a physician (37; Sū.26.4); siddhamantras are mentioned (230). Indicative of the same age are the social structure, reflected, for example, in the numerous references to varṇas, castes and professions,³³⁹ the increased influence of popular religion³⁴⁰ in comparison with the Carakasaṃhitā, Suśrutasaṃhitā, and the works of Vāgbhaṭa, the geographical terms,³⁴¹ and the names of peoples such as the Hūṇas.³⁴²