A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c43.s29.124

v3.c43.s29.124

*Special features* ¹⁰⁵³ The series of the seasons consists of grīṣma, prāvṛṣ, varṣāḥ, śarad, hemanta, vasanta; they are associated with the signs of the zodiac (rāśi): grīṣma with Meṣa (Aries) and Vṛṣa (Taurus), prāvṛṣ with Mithuna (Gemini) and Karka (Cancer), varṣāḥ with Siṃha (Leo) and Kanyā (Virgo), śarad with Tulā (Libra) and Vṛścika (Scorpio), hemanta with Dhanus (Sagittarius) and Grāha (Capricornus), vasanta with Kumbha (Aquarius) and Mina (Pisces) (2.25cd–26). Medicinal substances are said to possess only five main qualities (guṇa), namely guru, snigdha, tīkṣṇa, rūkṣa and laghu, corresponding with the five mahābhūtas; all the other qualities are included in these five (I.2.16–17ab). ¹⁰⁵⁴ Two types of vīrya are distinguished, uṣṇa and śīta; the other types are included in these two (I.2.17cd–18). ¹⁰⁵⁵