The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c8.t2: The Dietary Animals in Charaka and Suśruta

The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c8.t2

Language: English

The Dietary Animals in Charaka and Suśruta

c8.t2.1

In noticing different kinds of meat for dietary purposes, Charaka gives a classification of animals (mammals and birds) which has only a practical (therapeutic) significance.

The dietic value of the flesh of any animal was conceived to depend mainly on its habitat and mode of life. Dietary animals (mammals and birds) were accordingly divided into eight classes (अष्टविधा योनिरुक्तान्) :—

c8.t2.3

(1) *Prasaha*, carnivorous as well as non-carnivorous (Chakrapâṇî), comprehending land quadrupeds and birds that fall on their food with force.

c8.t2.4

(2) *Anûpa*, animals that live in marshy or waterlogged lands or graze on river-banks.

c8.t2.5

(3) *Bhûśaya* or *Vileśaya*, animals that live in under-ground holes.

c8.t2.6

(4) *Vâriśaya*, aquatic animals, both fresh-water and oceanic.

c8.t2.7

(5) *Jalachara*, amphibious animals.

c8.t2.8

(6) *Jângala*, animals that live in dry and elevated (hilly) jungle lands, mostly species of deer.

c8.t2.9

(7) *Viṣkira*, birds that scatter their food in picking up; and

c8.t2.10

(8) *Pratuda*, birds that pierce or torment their food (worms and fruits) with the beak.

c8.t2.11

In the chapter on articles of diet, Suśruta gives a practical classification of (vertebrate) animals for dietary purposes. Animals that find a place in this dietary are first divided into two classes: (1) *Anûpa*, animals that live in marshy or water-logged land (or in water); (2) *Jângala*, animals that live in dry (hilly) jungle land. The Jângalas are divided into five classes, and the Anûpas into eight. The thirteen classes are based on real and natural distinctions of food and habitat; they are for dietary purposes arranged under six conventional (or artificial) classes (त्रयोदशभेदा षट्सु एव अन्तर्भूताः। संख्येपम् निर्देश्यादेव षट्संख्यायां लभ्यायां षड्ग्रहणम् तेन षड्वर्गा इति नियमार्थम्—Dalvana, *Sûtrasthâna*, Chap. XXVII.). These thirteen classes of dietary animals may be enumerated as follows :—

c8.t2.12

I. *Jângala* animals—*Janghâla*, *Viṣkira*, *Pratuda*, *Guhâśaya*, *Prasaha*, *Parṇamriga*, *Vileśaya* and *Grâmya*, and
II. *Anûpa* animals—*Kulechara*, *Plava*, *Kośastha*, *Pâdina*, and *Matsya*.

c8.t2.13

Of these, the *Matsyas* (fishes) are divided into two groups—fresh-water (*lit.* river-water) and sea-water fishes. Among the sea fishes, the *timi* and the *timin-gala* (whales? तिमिनहत्तमो मत्स्यः तिमिङ्गलस्ततोऽपि महत्तरः—Dalvana) find a place, as also the *makara* (shark, हिंस्रदंष्ट्राकः—Dalvana).

c8.t2.14

The *Kośastha* (living in shells—mollusca) are distinguished from the *Matsyas* (fishes). In this class are enumerated *śankhas* (Conchifera), *śankhana* (smaller Conchifera), *śukti* (pearl-mussels), *sambuka* (Helix) with spiral shell (आवर्त्तकोशः—Dalvana), *valluka* (a species of Helix, according to some, अन्य सम्बुकभेदमाहुः—Dalvana), etc. Dalvana adds *voḍika*, *jalaśukti*, and various species of Helix (वोडिकजलशुक्तिशम्बू कभेदा बहुविधा गृह्यन्ते).

c8.t2.15

The *Pâdinas*, aquatic animals having pedal (or long dorsal) appendages, comprise *kurmas* (oval or oblong-shaped tortoises, turtles), the *kumbhîras* (crocodiles, Emydosauria, Reptilia), *karkatas* (white and black crabs, Crustacea), the *śiśumâra* (a species of the Delphinidæ cetacea), muscular, with a sharp protruding snout, breathing with the blow-hole *out of the water*, probably a dolphin, as the long dorsal fin was taken for a sort of pedal appendage (दृढाकारोऽश्वकः वहिर्निश्वासं मुञ्चति सोऽपि द्विविधः वर्त्तुलदीर्घभेदतः—Dalvana). The *Pâdinas* do not represent any natural division.

c8.t2.16

Of the other *Anûpa* animals (aquatic or amphibious animals), the *plavas* (*lit.* floating on the water) represent a class of birds (the Natatores and the Grallatores) exemplified by geese, ducks, cranes, etc.

c8.t2.17

The *Kulecharas* are herbivorous quadrupeds that frequent the banks of rivers and ponds, and comprise the elephant, the rhinoceros, the *Gâvaya* (*Bos gavæus*), the buffalo, various species of deer, etc.

c8.t2.18

Of the land animals (*Jângala*), three of the subdivisions represent birds, and five, mammals. The land birds are: (1) the *Prasaha* birds, birds of prey proper (Raptores), comprising the vulture, kites, hawks, owls, etc. (Charaka's *Prasaha* is a much wider class); (2) the *Viṣkiras*, birds that scatter their food in picking up; and (3) the *Pratudas*, birds that pierce or torment their food (fruits or worms) with the beak. The last two classes comprehend between them the *Passeres* (proper and so-called), the *Scansores*, the *Rasores* and the *Columbæ*.

c8.t2.19

The remaining five classes of *Jângala* animals are mammals, with the exception of several species of *Vileśayas*, which are reptiles. The *Parṇamrigas* (arboreal animals) comprise the apes, sloths, squirrels, as also some of the reptiles and carnivora. Among the *Parṇamrigas*, the *Putighasa* is a kind of tree-cat giving out a pungent odour; the *Madgumuṣîka* and the *Brikṣaśâyika* are arboreal rodents; and the *Avakuśa* is a species of cow-tailed monkey (*vide* Dalvana). The *Janghâlas* are wild animals, herbivorous quadrupeds that are strong-legged and quick-footed, comprising various species of deer and antelopes.

c8.t2.20

The *Grâmyas* (*lit.* living in or about villages, domesticated quadrupeds) comprise the horse, the mule, the ass, the camel, the goat, the sheep, etc. They are non-carnivorous, being distinguished from the carnivorous quadrupeds (क्रव्याद—Suśruta, मांसाद—Charaka). Some are *Ekaśapha* (animals whose hoofs are not cloven) (ग्राम्यशब्देन च एकशफशब्देन च ग्राम्याः—शफः खुरः—Dalvana).

c8.t2.21

The *Guhâśayas* are carnivorous quadrupeds (क्रव्यादाः) living in natural caves or hollows. They comprise the lion, the tiger, the wolf, tho hyena, the bear, the panther, the cat, the jackal, the *mrigevaru*, etc. The *vrika* (wolf) is defined as a dog-like animal, small-sized (in comparison with the lion and the tiger). By the cat, here, wild-cats are meant. The *mrigevaru* is described as a jackal-like animal that kills deer.

c8.t2.22

Finally come the *Vileśayas*, animals that live in holes or burrows, comprising various species of Rodents and Insectivora, and several species of Reptiles.

Linked texts (1)

Suśrutasaṃhitā — Suśruta & Nāgārjuna (siddha/alchemist), Sanskrit