Ancient Indian Medical Treatise "Ashtanga Sangraham
(Pr.:Asht`aanga Sangraham"). Author: Vagbhata Jr. (Pr.: Vaagbhat`a
Junior.).
Volume I of the treatise deals with the principles of the ancient
Indian Medicine. It has 11 chapters.
This extract is from the fourth chapter, which contains some 'Do's and Don'ts during different seasons of the year', called 'Ritu Charya' in Sanskrit language..
Some Universities in India have prescribed Ashtanga Sangraham as a
Text Book for the students of "B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic
Medicine and Surgery)."
DESCRIPTION AND EFFECTS OF WINTER
Dhuuma dhuuma rajoo mandaas
tushaar anila mand`alaaha;
dig aaditya marut s`aityaat
uttaroo rooma harshan`aha;
loodhra priyangu punnaaga
lavalyaha kusumoojvalaaha;
dripta gaja mahisha vaaji
vaayasa suukaraaha;
himaanii patalat channaalina
miina vihangamaaha;
nadyaha sabaashpaaha sooshmaan`aha
kuupaapas`cha himaagamee;
deehoo shmaan`oo vis`antaha antaha
s`iitee s`iita anilaahataha;
jat`haree pind`itooshmaan`am
prabalam kurvatee analam;
visargee balinaam praayaha
svabhaavaadi guru kshamam;
brimhan`aas anna paanaani
yoojayeet tasya yuktayeeh;
anindhanaha avyavadhanii cheet
udiirn`a tayaa adhavaaha;
dhaatuun api pacheet api
tatas teeshaam kshayaan marut;
teejaha sahacharaha kupyeet
s`iitam s`itee vis`eeshitaha.
GIST
The Sun and the eight sides (directions such as East, South East,
South etc.) look faded and dull, when surrounded by dust, with the
advent of snow fall season. The Sun and the horizons appear
agitated and disturbed.
The winds from the North will be very cool. They arouse hair-
rising sensations on the body.
The winter flowering plants (Lodhra, Priyangu, Lavali) blossom and
glow.
Elephants, goats, horses, bysons, crows, and pigs fatten.
Rivers will be full of birds and fish, hidden beneath the water.
The rivers will be covered with snow.
Well water will be warm and steaming.
The cool breezes of the autumn and winter ignite and strengthen the
digestive fire within the strong bodied persons. The breezes hit and enter the elements of inner-heat of the body. The inner-heat
attains a spherical shape. Consequently, strong persons will be
able to digest heavier and complex foods. This fire should be met
with a matching balanced diet; else, the intensity of the fire will
destroy the tissues of the body. When tissues deteriorate, the
winds and the fire cool down and aggravate the symptoms of
vaata (wind imbalance).
Atoohi mee bhajeet snigdhaan
svaad aamla lavan`a rasaan;
vilees`a yaudakaa maapa
prasahaanaam bhritaani ca;
maamsaani gud`a pisht`hoo
uttha madyaan abhinavaani ca;
maasheekshu kshiira vikriti
vasaa taila navodanaan;
vyaayaamoodvartanaat abhyanga
sveeda bhuuma anjana aatapaan;
sukhoodakam s`aucha vidhee
bhuumi garbha grihaan`i ca;
saangaara yaanaam s`ayyaan ca
kutha kambala sanskritaam;
kumkumeen anuliptaangaha
gurun`aa agarun`aan api va;
laghu ushn`aih praavrittaha svapyaat
kaalee dhuuma adhi vaasitaha;
piinaangana anga sampanga
nivaarita himaanilaha.
GIST
Hence, we should eat foods which have sweet, sour and salty tastes.
The foods are to be viscose with oil or clarified butter.
Type of meat to be eaten:: 1. animals living in burrows.
2. aqua foods 3. home-grown animals. 4. parrots and parkeets, and
other birds. (The idea is: human body should get sufficient heat
from the animal foods which have some latent heat).
Type of liquor to be consumed:Fresh-brewed liquor from
jaggery and flour.
Other foods: Blackgram lentils; sugar cane; milk foods;
vasa (I believe that this is a herb root derived from aconite
family. Shall check up internet and rewrite);
gingelly or sesame oil; boiled rice etc. which are in warm-heated
condition.
exercise - To be done.
bathing hygiene: Udvartanam = Greengram lentil
flour or bengalgram lentil flour are to be mixed with oil, making a
paste. The paste is to be applied and rubbed to the whole body.
The flour + oil mixture captures the dirt on the body and becomes a
consolidated paste. The floor and dirt are to be removed with
hands rubbing gently.
Abhyanganam = washing hair with soapnuts, after applying
oil. This hair bath is not done with shampoos.
Sveedam = Sweating the body by covering it with woolen
coverings and if necessary exposing the body to steam.
Dhuumam = exposing to smoke of incenses like lobran.
Anjanam = Kaajal is applied to the eyes.
Sukhoodakam = comfortable bathing water.
Living room and bed : 1. Underground rooms. 2. Heating
arrangements. 3. Beds should be well-couched with warm linen and
rugs.
Kumkumee anuliptaangaha = body should be applied with
saffron.
gurun`aa agarun`aa = else(in lieu of saffron), application
of a thick layer of perfume of 'agaru'.(Translation will
be given later).
laghuushn`aih praavritaha = covered with warm clothing.
kaalee dhuuma dhi vaasitaha = exposed to timely fumes of
incenses.
PIINAANGANA ANGA SAMPANGA NIVAARITA HIMAANILAHA body
protected from the cool winds, with the embraces of sturdy
beloveds. Pinangana = sturdy and strong girl; anga = body organs;
sampanga = embrace; nivarita = prevented; hima = snowy; anilaha =
winds.
Swapyaat: Should sleep.
MY COMMENTS
I have translated to the best of my ability. I am aware that this is not a good translation. I shall try to improve. Pl. bear with me in the meantime.
Some of the routine may not suit the North-Western hemisphere countries, particularly the US, Canada, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden etc. I see from Hollywood English movies, most bed rooms are profusely furnished with warm bed sheets etc.
I believe that those who sleep under flyovers and shop-fronts exist in every country, exposed to the extremities of the severe winters.
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