A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c42.s27: Special features

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c42.s27

Language: English

Special features

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The *Siddhayoga* contains the earliest descriptions of two new diseases, snāyukaroga and vardhma.

The pathogenesis, symptoms and treatment of snāyukaroga, i.e., dracontiasis or the Guinea worm disease, 93 caused by the infestation of the human organism by a nematode, *Dracunculus medinensis* Linn., is lucidly described in the last part of the chapter on visphoṭa (55.15–19). The commentary refers to the fact that this disorder is prevalent among the inhabitants of western countries. 94

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The aetiology, etc., of vardhma is dealt with in the chapter on vṛddhi (40.20–23). This disorder, incidentally referred to earlier, 95 acquired an independent status after Vṛnda characterized it as such. 96 The identity of this disease, showing distinctive swellings in the groins, has still to be determined. 97

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Vṛnda employs the term niścāraka for a type of diarrhoea. 98 The vāta disease called kubjatva (hump-backedness), absent from the *Mādhavanidāna*, but mentioned by Caraka 99 and Vāgbhaṭa, 100 is described by Vṛnda (22.34).

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Noticeable features of the *Siddhayoga* with respect to treatment are: the prescription, probably the earliest one recorded, of pāraśīyavavānī 101 against worms inside the body (7.1) and of an ointment made of the juice of dhaṭṭūra 102 and mercury (rasendra) against lice (7.13); a decoction of aśoka bark is prescribed against uterine bleeding (63.5); 103 the medicine against eye diseases called nāgārjunavarti, the formula of which is said to have been written by Nāgārjuna on a pillar in Pāṭaliputra (61.148–152), may be

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found for the first time in the *Siddhayoga*. 104 Many more recipes occurring in Vṛnda's work are remarkable and deserving of further study. 105

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The *Siddhayoga* is one of the earliest therapeutic works to prescribe ābhā. 106 Interesting is the use of the plant name kāmācī instead of kākamācī 107 and the description of the plant called vārāhikanda. 108 Opium and Cannabis are absent from Vṛnda's materia medica and iatrochemistry is still of small importance. 109

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Religious elements are not uncommon in the treatments described in the *Siddhayoga*. 110 A yantra, called ubhayatriṃśaka, is also described. 111 Prāṇāyāma is recommended in patients suffering from śūla. 112 A single reference to śūnyatā may point to Vṛnda's acquaintance with Buddhist doctrines. 113

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A single piece of evidence is sometimes considered to indicate that an author called Vṛnda wrote some explanatory work. This evidence consists of a remark in the *Kusumāvalī*, relating to a group of verses from the *Carakasaṃhitā*, 114 which says that Vṛnda explained a particular compound as a dvandva. 115

Cites (2)

Siddhayoga (Vṛndamādhava) — Vṛnda, Sanskrit
Carakasaṃhitā — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit