Cakradatta: Cikitsa Sangraha of Cakrapanidatta

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

During medieval period, Cakradatta has become more popular along with Madhavanidāna, Vṛndamādhava, Vañgasena, Gadanigraha, Sarangadhara Samhita and Bhāvaprakāśa Samhita. Cakrapāņidatta has composed a text book on medicine entitled 'Cikitsasañgraha' commonly known as Cakradatta presumably on the authors name as Rgviniscaya of Madhavakara become popular as Madhavanidana. This work set a historical land mark in the development of medical principles in India. Niścalakara (13th Century AD) wrote an exhaustive commentary on Cakradatta entitled as Ratnaprabha. Cakradatta has proposed principal line of treatment for various diseases; several herbal and herbo-mineral formulations are also prescribed in Cakradatta, which are beneficial for the Ayurvedic practitioners. In the present translation the authors have attempted to explain the subject matter in the form of tables and pictures with useful annexures such as 1. Table of weights and measures. 2. Herbs of Cakradatta with their synonyms, botanical name and family 3. Formulations of Cakradatta useful in different disease conditions 4. Metals and Minerals of Cakradatta with their references 5. Glossary of Sanskrit terms and Ślokānukramaņikā. Hope this work will be definitely useful for the students, teachers and practitioners of Ayurveda.

Dr. R. Vidyanath is currently working as Professor & HOD, Dept. of Ayurveda Samhita, Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital. Sector 46 B. Chandigarh. He has obtained MD from Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar and Ph.D. from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences. Vijayawada. He authored 25 books viz Pañcakarma, A Hand Book of History of Ayurveda, Astängahrdaya, Sahasrayogam, Siddhasara Samhita, Cakradutta, A Hand Book of Ayurvedic Terminology Illustrated Padartha Vijñan Evam Ayurveda Itihas, Caraka Samhita (Vol I & II) English Translation with Cakrapani commentary, Practical Guide on Pañcakarma, Ayurveda in Daily Life. Vijaya Kalpa etc He is the recipient of Andhra Pradesh State Best Teacher Awardee 2013. He has published 51 Scientific Papers and attended nearly 96 National and International conferences in the capacity of Paper presenter, Guest Speaker, Organizing Secretary, Adjudicator and Chairperson.

Dr. K. Nishteswar has worked as Professor & HOD, Dravyaguna at LPGT & RA. Gujarat Ayurved University. Jamnagar, Dr. B.R.K.R. Govt. Ayurvedic College, Hyderabad and also at Dr. N.R.S. Govt. Ayurvedic College, Vijayawada. He has obtained M.D. from G.A.U Jamnagar and Ph.D. from University of Pune. He has received Andhra Pradesh State Best Teacher Award during the year 2001 He was also awarded several Gold and Silver Medals in recognition of his merit. He has delivered Keynote lectures and Guest lectures in several National and International Seminars. So far, he has written more than 50 books on different subjects of Ayurveda and published 150 papers in peer reviewed journals and 55 in other journals. He has also served as CCIM member as well as Executive Editor for AYU an International Journal.

Around 1000 B.C, the knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented in various Samhitas viz. Agnivela Samhita, Bhela Samhita, Kasyapa Samhita, Harita Samhita, Suśruta Samhita etc. During the ancient times Acaryas of Ayurveda had written voluminous works on different specialties, which were not tangible to mediocre students.

As the time demanded for summarizing and full-fledged works on medicine, Vagbhaga brought out with an excellent work entitled 'Astangasañgraha", which obtained the status of Samhita, securing a place in Brhattrayl. It clearly shows that Vagbhata adopted the art of compilation from earlier works and strengthening the science of therapeutics by newer inclusions which has been followed by scholar Vaidyas of medieval period. Siddhastra, Madhavanidana, Madhavacikitsa, Cikitsakalika, Vrndamadhava, Cakradatta, Vañgasena, Gadanigraha, Sarangadhara Samhita and Bhavaprakasa etc. are being considered as the popular texts of Ayurveda during medieval period.

Cakrapanidatta has composed a text book on medicine entitled 'Cikitsasangraha commonly known as Cakradatta presumably on the authors name as Rgviniscaya of Madhavakara become popular as Madhavanidana. This work set a historical land mark in the development of medical principles in India. Niscalakara (13" Century AD) wrote an exhaustive commentary on Cakradatta entitled as Ratnaprabha. Basing on the information furnished by the author himself at the end of the treatise; Sivadas Sen interpreted that Cakrapani belongs to Lodhratall family. His father Narayanadatta was kitchen superintendent during the period of Gauda king Nayapala and his brother Bhanudatta was court physician. Most of the historians fixed the period of Cakrapanidatta as 11" century AD. A verse at the end of Cakradatta clearly indicates that he followed the text of Vrida's Siddhayoga and suggests that this work is considered as post Vnda period. According to Niscalakara, it is known that he has traced the sources of many verses of Cakradatta are from as many as 49 works of preceding authors viz. Caraka, Suśruta, Harita, Bhela, Kharanada, Krsnatreya, Videha, Ksarapani, Nagarjuna, Vagbhaja, Candraja, Ravigupta, Vrnda etc.

Indian education system comes from Vedas documented by Gurus in the Ancient period and the knowledge was transmitted from the Gurus to the Shisya in Gurukuls including Practical & Oral Teaching. The disciple required to memorize and further pass the knowledge to the next generation.

Afterwards documentation of literature in the form of treatises has taken place for the benefit of all the three kinds of disciples. The historic Indian education system is also called the Gurukul system. There were Gurus and the Sisyas lived together under one roof in Gurukul until the completion of their education. The Gurukulas during those times focused on the practical aspects of life. The students were taught in the open classroom in the surrounding area of nature. This early system of education in India continued for many years until the modern education system came into the picture in the nineteenth century. In the recent past the style of documentation is changed and all the manuscripts are preserving in the digitalized form for want of space and to reduce the consumption of paper and also for easy access from anywhere. Even though digitalization of manuscripts is having advantages certain drawbacks are also there. Thus, the knowledge which was documented in the form of book will be highly beneficial for the reader at any point of time without depending on the electronic devises and electricity.

It gives me an immense pleasure to write a foreword on the scholarly work and English translation of 'Cakradatta' by Dr. R. Vidyanath and Dr. K. Nishteswar.

Cakrapanidatta belongs to 11 AD, composed a text book on medicine entitled 'Cikitsasañgraha' commonly known as 'Cakradatta' set a historical land mark in the development of medical principles in India during medieval period. The author incorporates the advances in medicine during two centuries after Vṛnda's Siddhayoga. The period is characterized mainly by the evolution of Rasasastra. In comparison with the other medieval works, Cakrapani has revealed many a number of mercurial preparations for the management of various disorders. Along with Parada (mercury), other groups of drugs such as Maharasa, Uparasa, Sadharana rasa, Dhatu, Ratna and Sudha Varga are also traced in Cakradatta. It is observed that 'Rasaparpati' is described by Cakrapani for the first time and incorporated in the formulary of Ayurveda.

I personally feel that 'Cakradatta' is a wonderful book in the literature of Ayurveda and every Ayurvedic student and practitioner must have this book as a ready reckoner. The style of presentation is good, impressive and as per the needs of the present generation.

I congratulate Dr. R. Vidyanath, Prof. & HOD Samhita, Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Chandigarh and Dr. K. Nishteswar, Ex. Prof. and HOD, Dravyaguna, IPGTR&A, Jamnagar for their scholarly work. I am confident that this book will be very useful for the students and practitioners of Ayurveda and wish this book will go long away.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages