Sushrut Samhita

Author(s): Sushrut Maharshi, Narayanram Acharya
Publisher: Chaukhambha Orientaliya

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[ ix ] . Another evidence is the two systems of enumeration of seasons ( Su. 6), one has got these seasons in the order of "Sisira, Vasanta, Grisma, Varsa, Sarad and Hemanta' while the other mentions as Varsa, Sarad, Hemanta, Vasanta, Grisma and Pravrt. On astronomical evidences Ekendra Nath Ghosh has proved a gap of 1500 years between these two views. If the first view is accepted as of Divodasa or Vtddha Susruta the second one can be of Susruta. From this also our hypothesis is confirmed. NAGARJUNA Nagarjuna is said to have added the uttaratantra and redacted the Susruta samhita. . There are several Nagarjunas among whom the following are noteworthy - 1. Nagarjuna, the philosopher and the author of the upayabrdaya and contem porary of Kaniska ( 1st cent. A.D.). 2. Nagarjuna, the friend and guide of the Satavahana King, Gautamiputra Satakarni ( 178-207 A.D. ). 3. Nagarjuna of the Gupta period ( 5th cent. A.D. ). 4. Siddha Nagarjuna. the disciple of Saraha-Pa ( 8th cent. A D. ). 5. Nagarjuna, author of the Yogaratnamala ( 12th cent. A.D.). The tantrayuktis in the uttartatantra have been borrowed from Kautilya ( 3rd cent. A.D.). Again Vagbhata ( 6th cent. A.D.) has utilised the Susruta samhita as appended with uttaratantra. Hence, the uttaratantra must have been added during the period between 3rd and 6th cent. A.D. Accordingly Nagarjuna of the 5th cent. AD. seems to have done this work during the Gupla period which is wellknown for renaissance and when almost all the Ayurvedic sambitas were redacted. Nagarjuna was posterior to Dsdhabala and as such has incorporated his views in his work. The mineral substances are much more developed in quality as well as quantity in Susruta sambita as compared with the Caraka samhita. It is likely that the same Nagarjuna is the author of the Lohasastra which is referred to in Vinda's Siddhayoga. The relerence of some formulae described on the pillar at Patali. putra is also related to him. The redactor of the Susruta samhita was also the author of the Rasavaisesika and that is why the views of Susruta and Nagarjuna are similar. It is also possible that due to contemporaneity of one Nagarjuna with Susruta during the period of Satavahana king, Nagarjuna became connected with the redaction of the Susruta sarbita just as after a lapse of centuries the contemporaries Caraka and Patanjali came to be known as identical.