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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
the general rules for acquiring the satapaka or sahasrapaka oit in case it was required for a patient monk.' Ham satellaa was the oil extracted out of the body of a swan. To prepare this oil a swan was killed and the viscid matter of its body was extracted by piercing it. Its body was then stuffed with various medicinal substances, stitched from outside, and kept on fire till the oil came out of it. The oil prepared in such a manner was termed hamsatella and was considered to be highly beneficial for curing certain diseases.
There was also a variety of fruits or flowers the smell of which was used to induce or obstruct sleep.' These may be compared with the sleeping tablets or anti-sleep drugs of today. Besides, the smell of certain flowers was particularly beneficial for certain diseases. However, these were to be taken only when prescribed by an able physician.o
The plasters or ointments were used for healing the wounds. There were three varieties of ointments6—(i) those for killing the pain, (ii) those helping in ripening the unripe wound and (iii) those used for extracting the pus or such other viscid matter from the wound. The ointments prepared from the skin of the japa-plant ( calm evisera ), vata ( banyan ) and tuvara were used for killing the pain.? The plaster of cowdung ( gomayalepa ) was used for healing the wounds. The fresh cowdung or the cowdung dried under a shade was considered to be more effective and anti-poisonous. 8
1. NO. 1, p. 155, also p. 121. 2. NO. 1, p. 121; also BỊh. V1.5, p. 1591. 3. रातो जग्गियध्वं तत्थ किं चि एरिसं पुप्फफलं जेण जिंघिएण गिद्दा ण एति ।...निद्रालामे
at lagi lahti fraf-NC. 2, p. 33. 4. NC. 2, p. 33. 5. Ibid. 6. Format Gafasit_IT THRt, 94814t, gatuli ecuer?—NC. 2. p.
216; also NA. 3, p. 362. 7. FIFT 453fca27 gadi T ITI-NC. 3, p. 362. 8. NO. 3, pp. 361-62.
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