Astanga Hrdaya: Sutra-Sthana (Original Text with Authentic English Translation)  (English, Paperback, Dr. Deepak Yadav 'Premchand')

Foreowrd Vegbhata, the author of Astanga Hrdayam, enjoys significant popularity among the Ayurvedic fraternity. It appears that it is he who conceptualized the idea of compliation. Understanding the vastness of material available in the classic of Caraka, Susruta, Saunaka etc, he took up the responsibility of penning down a classic that will comprise of all the material available in the classics. Thus was born ‘Astanga Hrdaya Samhita’ of Vagbhatacarya. Salient Features of Astanga Hrdayam: Vagbhata quotes the reason for compiling the text in following worlds – ‘From those treatise which are very elaborate hence difficult to study, only the essence has been collected and this treatise – Astanga Hrdayam – prepared which is neither too succinct nor too elaborate’ The main subject of Vegbhata’s Astanga Hrdayam is Kayacikitsa (internal medicine). Some Peculiarities of Astanga Hrdayam: Vegbhata divides marmas (vital parts) in six catagories, as against to five by Susruta; they are mamsa marma (10), asthi marma (8), snayu marma (23), dhamani marma (9), sira marma (37) and sandhi marma (20). Vegbhata has described thirty-three drug groups in the 15th chapter of Sutrasthana. Unique definition of vipaka is given by Vagbhata (AH.Su. 9/20). Agrya drugs are mentioned in the 40th chapter of Uttarasthana; some important entries in this list are –usage of Haridra & Amalaki in Prameha; Pippali in Pliha roga; Guduci in Vatarakta; Haritaki in Vatakaphaja rogas; silajjatu in Basti-roga; Laja in Chardi; Musta & Parpata in Jwara etc.