Sushrut Samhita

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

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[ x ] Candrata : It is said that Candrata corrected the text of the Susruta samhita on the basis of Jejjata's commentary. It is presumed that there was Kashmir recension of this Samhita like that of the Caraka samhita which was followed by Jejjata as well as Candrata. It is also quite natural that during the course of textual modification, he might have interpolated some of his views in the text. Candrata quotes Jejjata (9th Cent. A.D.) and is quoted by Cakrapani ( 11th Cent. A.D.). Hence his date has been fixed as 10th Cent. A.D. about 1000 A.D. Analysis of the Strata of Authorship : As said earlier, there are four strata of authorship in the presently available Susruta samhita credited to Vtddha Susruta, Susruta, Nagarjuna and Candrata. The materials ascribed to each of the above authors can be distinguished by the process of analysis based on the historical perspective. The oldest view belonging to the period of Upanisads will go to the credit of Divodasa and Vfddha Susruta. The second stratum compared during the Satavahana period will be accredited to Susruta. The characteristic material alongwith the uttaratantra will go to Nagarjuna and the latest views touching the medieval period will be taken as of Candrata. It is a gigantic task to analyse all the data still we can present some instances which may be advanced further :A. Vyddha Susruta : The chapter on upanayana ( initiation ) ceremony is characteristic of the upanisadic period. Some philosophic views are also similar to those in the upanisads. Parallelism in respect of certain verses can be seen between the Susruta sambita and the Swetaswatara upanisad. The Samkhya philosophy of Susruta is definitely older than Iswaraksna's, Sainkhyakarika and has many originalities. All these portions may be ascribed to the earliest stage of VIddha Susruta. B. Susruta : The military medicine and the toxicology should go to the credit of Susruta who as Royal Physician developed these branches as necessity of the age. The fundamental aspect was also developed by Susruta. The six kriyakalas in relation to pathology and the five types of Pitta (Agni) are some of advances made during this period. The applied aspect in terms of diseases and drugs were also developed. The views of Caraka have been contradicted at many places which may be due to the natural rivalry between the schools of surgery and medicine. The state control on medical profession depicted in the Susruta samhita and also the code of ethics had most probably come in vogue during the period of Susruta.