[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c15.86 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.86 History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.86 - **Language:** English ### [c15.86](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15.86) As regards the age of the Susruta, the evidences are, however, comparatively definite. Its terminology and technique in general, do not differ much from those of the Charaka. Its style is rather dry, laconic and matter-of-fact, in contrast to the discursive and diffusive character of that of the Charaka. It aims at some systematic classification of a large amount of matter avoiding unnecessary details. This indicates a somewhat later date of its composition. The extant Susruta is generally believed to be a comparatively modern recension by the celebrated Buddhist chemist, Nagarjuna (8th century A.D.) who is said to have added the Uttaratantra or the Supplement. There is evidence that the redactor thoroughly recast and remodelled the original work of Susruta; for there are numerous passages in it, which agree almost \*verbatim\* with those found in the Charaka The Susruta is \*par excellence\* a treatise on surgery as the Charaka is on medicine proper. Susruta is said to be the disciple of Dhanvantvari In the Charaka we find a distinction drawn between "Kaya-Chikitsakas" i.e. the physicians properly so-called, and the "\*Dhanvantvari\* Sampradayas" i.e. followers of Dhanvantvari or the chirurgeons. According to a Buddhist Jataka, Susruta was a teacher in the University of Kasi (Banaras) during Buddha's time and was a younger contempor-ary of Atreya. Hence, though the original Susruta was composed somewhat later than the Charaka, there cannot be a great interval between the two. It should also be borne in mind that the extant Charaka and Susruta represent not only the chemical and therapeutical knowledge of the time of their final redaction, but they are also repositories of informations, accumulated on the subject, during the earlier periods dating back to the Vedic Age. - [Previous: c15.85](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15.85) - [Next: c15.87](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15.87) - [Up: c15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15.86](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c15.86) · Pramāṇa