Sambodhi 2013 Vol 36

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 53

Vol. XXXVI, 2013
The Causation theory in Ayurveda Philosophy
45
as a cause of other disease and it may thus be regarded both as an effect and a cause. There is, therefore, no absolute difference between a cause an effect; and that which a cause may be an effect and that which is an effect may also turn as a cause. 11
Suśruta clearly mentions that an effect is uniform in virtue to its precedent cause 'Kāraṇānurūpam kāryamiti krtva12' Suśruta's theory of evolution is dependent on the Samkhya concept of cause and effect. According to Susruta, the latent supreme Praksti is the progenitor of all the creation and its role is the primary factor in working out the evolution of the universe. 13 In Astāmgahrdayam Vāgabhatta is one step further in this respect when he says, 'the manifold universe is nothing but a modification of the Gunās, so all diseases are modifications of the three dosās or as in the ocean waves, billows and foam are seen, which are in reality the same as the ocean, so all the diseases are nothing but the three dosās.14 . Thus this short discussion reveals that ayurvedists have abundantly applied the fundamental law of causation of Samkhya for their practical purpose, particularly laying down their basic concepts, in which the different outlooks regarding the law of causation have been applied broad-mindedly, for the elimination of disease and distress. Foot Notes 1. Ayurvedayatīti āyurvadah. CS 1.30.12, Ayursmina viddhyate anena
vayurvindatltyāyurvedah S S 1.1.14 Prayojanaṁ cāsya svasthasya svāsthyaraksanaṁ vikārapraśamanam ca. CS 1.30.26
S. P. Gupta, Psychopathology in Indian Medicine, p. 33 4. Hetulingausadhajñānam svasthāturaparāyanam. trisūtram śāśvatam
bubudhe yam pitämahah CS 1.1.24 5. S. N. Dās Gupta, A History of Indian Philosophy, Vol-2. p. 395 6. Ibid 7. C. D. Sharm,a A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy, p. 151-152 . 8. Asadakarnāt upādänagranāt sarvasambhavābhāvāt.
Śaktasyasakyakaranāt kāranabhāvācca satkārayam. Samkhyakārika 9 9. SS 3.1.4