Methodical Arrangement of ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda’ across Sushruta Samhita

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Acharya Sushruta has his own unique way of arranging the Ashtangas – eight limbs or branches of Ayurveda. They are –

1. Shalya Tantra – surgical science
2. Shalakya Tantra – diseases of ears, nose, throat and eyes
3. Kaya Chikitsa – general medicine
4. Bhuta Vidya – psychiatry (same as Graha Chikitsa)
5. Kaumara Bhritya – pediatrics (same as Bala Chikitsa)
6. Agada Tantra – toxicology (same as Damshtra Chikitsa)
7. Rasayana Tantra – geriatrics (same as Jara Chikitsa)
8. Vajikarana Tantra – aphrodisiacs (same as Vrisha Chikitsa)

Allocation of Ashtanga Ayurveda amongst various Sthanas – sections of Sushruta Samhita

The śālakya tantra is the childhood medicine and the physical therapy.
There are four types of material knowledge in the Tantras, known as Tuttara.
The tax on horses is also used in medicine and the method of chemistry.
The Kalpas again described the system of poisons and the knowledge of surgery in all directions
This eight-part tantra was revealed by the original demigods.
Those who study the Vedas according to the prescribed methods become life-giving on earth.

Ref – Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 3, Verses 44-46

Acharya Sushruta has brilliantly distributed these eight branches of Ayurveda amongst different sections of Sushruta Samhita comprising 120 chapters and additional 66 chapters of Uttara Tantra.

Related Reading – Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra

A. Branches of Ayurveda included under Uttara Tantra Section

In the Uttara Tantra section of Sushruta Samhita, Acharya Sushruta has included four among the eight branches of Ayurveda. They are –

1. Shalakya Tantra – study of diseases of the head and neck. The diseases of the head include those afflicting the ear, nose, tongue or mouth and eyes. Diseases of the neck include diseases of the throat. The modern day ENT and Ophthalmology can be included under Shalakya Tantra. Different types of headaches have also been discussed as a part of Shalakya Tantra. Detailed description of eye diseases and their treatments have been given in this section.
2. Kaumara Tantra – paediatrics – the study of diseases afflicting the children of different ages and their treatment.
3. Kaya Chikitsa – includes the discussion of general and common diseases that we encounter in the clinical practice, their etio-pathogenesis and treatment.
4. Bhuta Vidya – includes study of microorganisms, idiopathic disorders and their management.

Herein, Acharya Sushruta has discussed the important topics related to these branches of Ayurveda along with their pathogenesis, etiology and treatment.

Uttara Tantra is the final and special section of Sushruta Samhita. He has put in the discussion of the certain chapters of the four most important branches of Ayurveda in the last section which would look strange. It was probably not because they were not important but in fact because they were very important and special that they needed a separate section. He had made these chapters feel proud by allocating a separate section for discussing them.

B. Branches of Ayurveda included under Chikitsa Sthana Section

Two important branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda have been included under Chikitsa Sthana section which deals with treatment of diseases. They are –

5. Rasayana Tantra – is a branch which discusses about immunology, immune modulating medicines and health rejuvenators – preventive medicine
6. Vajikarana Tantra – is a branch which discusses aphrodisiacs and its utility in dealing with sexual problems and also as preventive medicine

C. Branches of Ayurveda included under Kalpa Sthana Section

Kalpa Sthana of Sushruta Samhita covers a detailed discussion of the seventh branch of Ashtanga Ayurveda ie Visha Tantra.

7. Visha Tantra – is a branch which touches upon the details of toxicology, poisons and poisoning, types and their remedies

D. Branches of Ayurveda included under Chikitsa Sthana Section

Acharya Sushruta further says that Shalya Tantra has been included everywhere in the treatises and in all the sections of the same since Shalya or surgical science has been considered as the most important branch in this treatise. Sushruta Samhita is a speciality book of surgical science and methods and interventions and hence it is a part of the entire treatise. We can see that Acharya Sushruta has mentioned Shalya Tantra at the top of the list of eight branches of Ayurveda.

8. Shalya Tantra – is a branch which deals with surgery, surgical procedures, surgical instruments, indications and contraindications, practice and training of surgical procedures and a lot more intricate details of ancient surgery.

Finally, Acharya Sushruta says that the treatise Sushruta Samhita consists of all the eight branches of Ayurveda i.e. Ashtangas, as propounded by Master Dhanwantari who is also called as Adideva. Any physician who would study Sushruta Samhita attentively and bring in the principles and fundamentals explained therein into practice faithfully, would become a best ‘giver and protector of life’ for the patients in the world.

According to some experts, Uttara Tantra is a special supplement to Sushruta Samhita and provides completeness to the treatise. Uttara Tantra provides extensive knowledge on subjects beyond surgical science. Gynaecology is also included in the discussion in Uttara Tantra apart from the other sections mentioned above.

Related AIAPGET Questions

1. Acharya Sushruta has enumerated the distribution of eight branches of Ayurveda in -1.
   a. Sushruta Uttara Tantra – Chapter 3
   b. Sushruta Chikitsa Sthana – Chapter 6
   c. Sushruta Sutra Sthana – Chapter 9
   d. Sushruta Sharira Sthana – Chapter 12

Ans-a. Sushruta Uttara Tantra – Chapter 3

2. Rasayana and Vajikarana Tantra are described in Sushruta Samhita in which of the below mentioned sections?
   to. Uttara Tantra
   b. Sutra Station
   c. Chikitsa Sthana
   d. All Sthanas

Ans- c. Medical Station

3. In Sushruta Samhita, where do we find elaborate discussion of Visha?
   a. Sutra Station
   b. Kalpa Sthana
   c. Uttara Tantra
   d. Chikitsa Stha

Ans- b. Kalpa Sthana

4. Which of these sections of Ashtanga Ayurveda has not been discussed in the Uttara Tantra of Sushruta Samhita?
   a. Whether Chikitsa
   b. Kumara Tantra
   c. Rasayana Tantra
   d. Shalakya Tantra

Ans- c. Rasayana Tantra (it is discussed in Chikitsa Sthana)

5. Among the eight branches of Ayurveda, Acharya Sushruta has discussed 4 angas (branches) in Uttara Tantra. Three of them are – Kaya Chikitsa, Kaumara Tantra and Shalakya Tantra. Which is the fourth one?
   a. Rasayana Tantra
   b. Vajikarana Tantra
   c. Visha Tantra
   d. Bhuta Vidya

Ans-d. Bhuta Vidya (Rasayana and Vajikarana are described in Chikitsa Sthana and Visha Tantra is described in Kalpa Sthana)