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68 : Śramaņa, Vol 63, No. 1, Jan.-Mar. 2012
The present paper endeavours to look into both the direct and indirect bearing of tourism in the context of wellness and healthcare, better known as medical tourism today in 21s century. Medical Tourism is a new term but old phenomenon. For this we shall take brief note of Ayurveda or Prāņāvāya which has been the main ancient way of treatment and health care. Like the Brahmanical tradition, in Jain tradition also we come across a number of Jain Ācāryas who, besides writing on different aspects of philosophy, spirituality and religion, wrote basic texts on Ayurveda or Prāņāvāya which are both general and specialized ones. These texts deal with different diseases, their symptoms, prevention and cure through the medicines and rarely through the surgery. In Jainism because of special stress on non-violence, they were disinclined towards surgery and also towards taking such food even for health sake which involve meat, honey and liquor'. The exclusive work by Dr. Rajendra Prakash Bhatnagar under the title “Jaina Ayurveda kā Itihāsa" deals exhaustively with different aspects of Ayurveda as discussed or propounded by Jain Ācāryas and monks. However the title of the book is ambiguous since Ayurveda is an Indian and traditional way of treatment which could never be termed as Hindu, Buddhist or Jain. Jain Ācāryas have always shown keen interest in the healthcare and wellness of the people (not merely for Jainas) which includes both the physical and mental healthcare in all its dimensions from the beginning of the Common Era. Jain inscriptions of Kuşāņa period of Mathura referring to the installation of Jaina images invariably mentioned that it was done for the welfare and happiness of all (Sarvajana hitaya) which includes the spirit of wellness and that too not only for Jainas but for all human beings." The Jainas had a well established tradition of medicine that was known as Pränavdya" . It deals with dietetics, drugs and mental disciplines which covered all the eight angas i.e..
