Why in the News

The Vice-President unveiled the statues of Sushruta and Charaka in Goa, highlighting the importance of drawing inspiration and motivation from their lives and contributions.

About Sushruta: 

• Believed to have flourished around 600 BCE in the ancient city of Kashi.
• Believed to be a disciple of Divodasa from the Gurukul of Dhanwantri.

Significant Contributions:

• Author of Sushruta Samhita: 
  • It can be divided into two parts, the original tantra is pūrvārdha having five sections, and the later half uttaratantra, is added afterwards.
  • One of the Great Trilogy of Ayurvedic Medicine (Others being  Charaka Samhita by Maharishi Charak and Astanga Hridaya by Vagabhata).
• Known as "The Father of Surgery": 
  • Mentions Eight types of Surgical procedures in Sushruta Samhita: chedya (excision), lekhya (scarification), vedhya (puncturing), esya (exploration), ahrya (extraction), vsraya (evacuation), and sivya (suturing).
• One of the first to study human anatomy: He described the study of anatomy in detail in the Sushruta Samhita, utilising a dead body as an aid.
• "The Father of Plastic Surgery": Pioneered nose reconstruction using cheek flaps, repair of cut earlobes, piercing of earlobes, repair of cut lips, and the utilisation of skin grafting techniques.
• Medical Ethics: Established the original code of medical ethics as a teacher of medicine at Benares University.

About Charaka:

• He is believed to have lived between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE in North West India.
• He was the royal physician in the Kushan Kingdom and is known as the "father of Indian medicine". 

Significant Contributions:

• Author of Charaka Samhita
  • The source of Charak samhita is identified as the Agnivesha Tantra composed by Agnivesha.
  • It is divided into eight portions, known as ashtanga sthanas.
  • It is a comprehensive treatise that remains one of the foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine:
  • It catalogued medicinal plants and documented their therapeutic properties. 
• Direct impact of Acharya Charak's knowledge in modern medical science
  • Tridosha theory: Three doshas, or principles, are responsible for a body's functionality, i.e. movement (Vata), transformation (Pitta), and lubrication and stability (Kapha).
    • This theory dictates that disease originates from the imbalance of the Tridosh. 
  • Ayurvedic medicines: Discussed various medicines in Charak Samhita which are used in the treatment of diseases. 
    • Even in modern medical sciences, many ayurvedic medications are being used appropriately, like Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Triphala, etc.
  • Yog: Acharya Charak considered yog, useful for health and soul and described it in detail in Charak Samhita.