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Medical Sciences in Jaina Canons:
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Ayurveda which has the same object and methodology, though it is a matter of research which system preceded the other. But as things stand, the Jainas used their term until eighth century A.D. and later began using latter term. Thus, currently one may take these terms as synonymous.
Kalyāṇakāraka a treatise of 8-9ch century mentions names of large number of predecessors authoring Prāņāvāya books whose works are unfortunately not available today". These would have been highly valuable to study the gradual development of medical concepts and practices during different periods. Shah and Bhatnagar" have mentioned about more than 100 books with their authors during later period between 1200-1950 A.D. to show that the indigenous science of medicines has always been a lively learning among the Jainas. However, the description here will cover a limited period of canons and their commentaries. Units under Medical Establishment:
Per chance, Sthānārga" is the first book mentioning four basic units of ancient medical system. They are- (i) the physician, (ii) patients, (iii) nurses and the (iv) medicines (the term used for this is Auşadha which previously meant herbal and plant-based medicines. Later, minerals and prepared medicines have also been included in this term). Besides preparations, administration of medicines to patients is also included here. A fifth unit of community and preventive medicine was added to these four suggesting public health consciousness of Jaina scholars more than two thousand years ago“. Ugrāditya also confirms these basic units and defines them. They are also the basic units of medical establishment today. This suggests the continuity of structural and external similarly of medical learning during the past and present. . (i) Physician: The word should be taken as to mean the indigenous medical specialist and practitioner of ancient times. There is a large amount of ignorance about the quality and quantity of physicians of that period. This does not seem justified. They became masters of their trade by learning under suitable monks in seminaries and monasteries associated with the Jainas besides their hereditary education. The teacher-monks were called Kalācāryas or skill
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