Jain Journal 1992 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 26

Contribution of Jaina Literature in the Development of Medical Science : Treatment of Leprosy
The present paper attempts to highlight the contribution of Jaina physicians in the field of medical science. The science of medicine (tegicchya or ayuvveya) has been counted in Jaina texts among the nine sciences. The practice of pävasuya is said to have been discovered by Dhanvantari. It contains eight branches: kumārabhicca (pediatrics), salaga (surgery and midwifery), sallahattha (the treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat), jangda (taxocology), bhāyavijja (demonology), rasayana (method of restoring health in old age), vājikaraṇa or khäranta (sexual rejuvenation) and käyatigiccha (treatment of body diseases).
The physicians carried their bags of surgical instruments (satthakose)" and gave various treatments according to the nature of the disease, viz. sinehapāņa (rubbing with oil drinks), vamana (vomitting), vireyaṇa (purging), avadhähana (branding), avanāhana (medicated baths), anuvasana (oil onema), kşethikamma (famigation), niruha (purging by drugs), siräveh (opening veins) tecchana (cutting), päcchana (scraping), sirobothi (bathing the head with oils), lappana (nourishing the body with oils). Besides these methods, several other methods of treatment has been adopted by the Jaina physicians.
4
Nagendra Kumar Singh
The Acaranga Sutra mentions the following sixteen diseases: kuṭṭha (leprosy), gandi (boils), rāyanise (consumption), avamariya (epilepsy), käniya (blindness), kuniya (lameness), khejiya (jumpback), udari (dropsy), muya (numbness), suniya (swelling), gilasani (over-appetite),
1 Thānanga Sutra, p. 678.
2 Nisitha Curni, 15, p, 944.
3 Ibid., 11, p. 701.
4 Vivägasuya, i, p. 8.