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FOURTH CHAPTER
MEDICAL RECIPES
Introduction :
The Jainācāryas have made a notable contribution to the development of Indian Ayurvedic system of medical science as a whole in the Ayurvedic, post-Ayurvedic and Iatro-Chemical periods of India. But in the early stage the medical science was not encouraged by them as the Jaina monastic jurisprupence stictly prohibited them to take medicine for the cure of disease! as it involved sinful act in killing life ārambha samarambha) in the preparation of medicines by crushing, grinding, rubbing and triturating medical plants and herbs.
In the Jaina cononical work the medical science (āyurvedia or tegicchā) was first regarded as one of the nine false science (pavasuya). According to the Jaina tradition, Dhaanatari was the founder of the medical science.3
The Jaina tradition avers that Ayurveda consists of eight branches. viz. pediatric (Kumārabhicca), surgery and midwifery (salaga). treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat (Sallahattha), treatment of bodily diseases (Kāyatigicchā), toxieology (Jangala) demonology (Phūyavijjā), the science of restoring lost health in old age (rasayana) and sexual rejuvenation (vājikaraṇa of Khāratantra)*
1. parişaha and Bhikṣācaryā sapa prakaroņa 5, pp 311-39. But it is to
be noted here that Mahāvıra himself took medicine prepared by Revati with the saturation of Kukkutamamsa and got cured of his blood
dysentery (See Bhagavati, 15th śataka). 2. Sthânặnga Sutra, 409, 9.678. 3. According to the Susruta 1.1.1. c. Brahmā has created the medical
science for mankind, he taught it to Dakşarajāpati, from whom it was learnt by Aśvinkumār, in turn Indra learnt it from Asvinkumāra and taught it to Dhanvantari, ;see Nišitha Cūrni, 15. 944, c. Milindapanha. p. 227, See Ayógharajā
taka, No. 510, IV. pp. 496, 398. 4. Vivāgasuya, 7, p. 41, also of. Susruta Samhitā, Ch., 1.8, p. 4ff.
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