Medical education in ancient India

A brief post on medical education in ancient India. Ancient Hindu doctors were regarded as among the best in the world. They were experts in performing various advanced medical procedures including cataract surgery.

1)Aspiring candidates were eligible to enroll as medical students. 

2)A Special Upanayana(initiation) ceremony was conducted for students seeking admission to medical courses. 

3)The student was expected to be proficient in Sanskrit. 

4) Rote learning was discouraged. This is said by the great Sushruta himself. 

5) Different medical specialization courses were offered. 

6) Emphasis was laid on practical training in surgery & pharmacy.

7) Beginner students were taught how to hold medical instruments by teachers. They practiced dissection procedures first on pumpkins, cucumbers followed by dead animals. 

8) Students were also taught suturing techniques.

9) Emphasis was put on training the students in dissection. Advanced students practiced it on dead bodies. 

10) Students were required to have a throughout knowledge of the human anatomy. 

11) The quality of medical education imparted in Bharat was the highest for that era.

12) Large medical colleges (Arogyavihara) existed in cities like Pataliputra (present day Patna) where some of the students received training in advanced medical techniques. 

13) Hindu doctors were renowned for their proficiency. Arabs invited Hindu doctors to arab peninsula to teach & supervise.

14) The following is an extract from the Charakasamhitha Vimanasthana. It was an oath initiated to students on completion of their course. Very similar to the hippocratic oath administered to practitioners of modern medicine.

Some of the important points mentioned in the above oath.

a)Everyday you should continuously & wholeheartedly try to promote the health of your patients.

b)Even if your own life is in danger you should not desert your patients. 

c)Your speech should be smooth, polished, truthful & to the point. 

d)You must treat as strictly confidential all information about the patient & their family.

e)You should make a deliberate endeavor to increase the stock of your knowledge & instruments. 

f)Where there is a danger of the patient or any of his relatives receiving a shock, you should not divulge the impending death of the patient, even when you are aware of it.

g)Though well grounded in your line, you much not praise your knowledge much. One can never get a mastery of the entire medical science.
h) A wise physician should listen to & derive benefit from the discoveries & observations of even an enemy.

Ancient Hindu doctors were regarded as among the best in the world. They were experts in performing various advanced medical procedures including cataract surgery. Hindu doctors trained & imparted medical knowledge to lesser evolved societies like the arabs.

REFERENCE

Education in Ancient India by AS Altekar

Padartha dharma sangraha of Prashastapada : The Ancient Hindu knowledge on the fundamental nature of Space, Time & Matter.

The Padartha dharma sangraha of Prashastapada is one of the most important works on Physics to emerge out of ancient Bharat. The text greatly deals with the nature of matter, recognizing its atomic character & the role of atoms.

Prashastapada was an ancient Hindu philosopher who lived during the classical age of the Guptas. He wrote the Padartha dharma sangraha, which is basically a commentary on Vaisheshika Sutras of Rishi Kanada (who was the first person to propound the atomic nature of matter)

The concepts discussed in the text include those which came to be later classified as classical/newtonian mechanics. Prashastapada talks about concepts like Vega (momentum), Sanyoga vibhaga (displacement), Digvishista Karyarambhakatva (Vectors), Gamana (curvilinear motion)

Bhramana (rotary motion), Spandana (vibratory motion) among many other concepts. The concept of Vega(momentum) which forms the basis of Newton's 2nd law of motion (F=m.a) was explained by Prashastapada centuries before Newton was born.

The text talks in great detail about fluid mechanics. Concepts like Saandrataa (Viscosity), Abhisarpana (Capillary motion), fluid motion are explained in great detail here. Among the different types of motion explained by Prashastapada. This was 1000 years before Galileo & Newton.

Prasastapada also explains to us the nature of sound & its mode of propagation. He says sound travels through the medium of air in the form of circular waves.

Prasastapada was aware of the nature of atoms & their perpetual state of motion which he classified into different types including rotatory, circular & simple harmonic motion.

A small extract from the Padarthadharma sangraha, where Prashastapada first pays obeisance to Ishvara & Rishi Kanada before commencing his work.

REFERENCE

The Cultural Heritage of India Volume VI by Ramakrishna Mission

Structural elements of a Pallava monolithic rock cut Ratha type Temple

Valayankuttai Ratha

This partially completed monolithic Pallava rock cut temple from Mahabalipuram presents a very good visual representation of how ancient Sthapatis (Architects) went about carving out material from a monolithic rock. Valayankuttai Ratha was being built during the reign of Pallava emperor Parameshvaravarman I who reigned during the years 670-695 CE.

Arjuna Ratha

If the Sthapatis had managed to complete the Valayankuttai Ratha, it would have looked similar to the Arjuna Ratha above. The Arjuna Ratha is from the Pancha Ratha Temple complex, an UNESCO world heritage monument. The Upapeetha(base) & Adisthana(plinth) remained incomplete in the Valayankuttai Ratha.

Upapeetha (Base)

This is also a good opportunity to understand the different elements that make up a Ratha type temple. It basically comprises of 6 major parts or Angas as it is called in the Shilpashastra. Lets have a look with the above example. Bottom most part is the Upapeetha, the sub base.

Adisthana (Plinth)

On top of the Upapeetha, we have the Adisthana. Usually these two elements are referred to as a single element. The rest of the Temple structure rests on this element. Sometimes the the Adisthana is intricately carved with a variety of ornate carvings. Usually Simhas (lions) & Ashvas (horses). The Adisthana itself is further divided in a series of sub parts Kandhara, mahapatti, jagati, kumuda, kampa, kapota, pratimuka, vaajana etc. But we'll have a look at only the basic 6 elements for now.

Paada (Wall)

This part is the Paada (walls). The paada also contain a number of Sthambas (pillars). The recess where carvings are made is called the Koshtha. In the case of the Arjuna Ratha there are 5 carvings On either side is a Pratihara (Guard). In centre we have Skanda seated on elephant.

Prasthara (Entablature)

Then comes the Prasthara or what in english we call as entablature. It is basically a horizontal beam which seperates the Paada(wall) from the upper structure. Prasthara too has a number of elements like Kapota, Uttira, Vyalavari etc. All these elements are intricately decorated.

Haara (Parapet)

This element is the Haara, the Parapet. The Ratha/Vimana type Temple can have a number of storeys. The Arjuna ratha is an example of a simple two storeyed Temple (Dvi-Tala). A ratha type Temple can have as high as 16 storeys. Each one of them is called jaati Vimana.

Griva (neck)

Shikhara (Spire)

Finally we have the Shikhara which is the spire. On top of it we usually have a Sthupi or Kalasha(which is not visible here). These are few elements of a Vimana type temple.

Dharmaraja Ratha

Dharmaraja ratha is the tallest among Pancharatha temples. It is a tri-tala (3 storeyed) Vimana type Temple. Each one of the storeys are functional. Despite its grand look, it is actually an unfinished temple. We can only imagine how much more grander finished one would have been.

REFERENCE

Encyclopedia of Hindu Temple Architecture by MA Dhaky