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Source Material

I. REFERENCES




  1. The Study of Health under Mobile Clinical Research Programme - (Ayurveda)(Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, New Delhi) 1987.


  2. Prakruthi Study (Study of Constitution and Temperament) in the treatment of two constitutional disease Parinamasula and Madhumeha (Peptic ulcer and Diabetes Mellitus) S.Venkataraghavan, V. Rajagopalan and K. Janaki Nagarjun (July 1981), VoI XXIV (No.11) 246-250.


  3. Constitutional study of Cancer Patients - Its Prognostic and Therapeutic scope by S. Venkatraghavan , T.P Sundaresan V. Rajagopalan and Kanchana Srinivasan Ancient Science of Life, Vol VII (No. 2) (October 1987), pages 110-115.

II. CLASSICS OF AYURVEDA

The concept of Prakruthi, and its varied aspects have been described in detail in the following classical texts of Ayurveda in the sections given. In each case we have referred to a standard edition of the text with its English/Hindi Translation.



  1. Charaka Samhitha ( English translation of prof. Priyavrat sharma) (Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanas), 1983



    • Sootrasthana, Chapter-7. Deals with the general concept and principles.


    • Vimanasthana, Chapter-8. Deals with characteristic signs and symptoms of each type.


    • Chikitsasthana, Chapter -4. Deals with the types of diseases that various Prakruthi type are prone to.


  2. Susrutha Samhitha (Hindi translation of Kaviraja Ambikadutta Shashri) (Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi), 1979.



    • Sareerasthana, Chapter -4. Deals with the concept and principles.


  3. Ashtanga Hridaya (Hindi translation of Kaviraj Yadaraj Trikani) (Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi), 1981



    • Sootrasthana, Chapter 1. Concept and principles and also types.


    • Sareerasthana, Chapter 3. Characteritic signs of each Prakruthi type.


  4. Harita Samhitha (With Hindi translation of Pandit Khemaraj, Bombay, 1927)



    • Prathamasthana, Chapter-5. Characteristic signs of Prakruthi types.



III Basic Texts on Indian Philosophy

Sankhya and Yoga form as it were the twin providing the conceptual foundation for the philosophical basis for Indian Medicine. The basic source book for Sankhya is the "Sankhya Karika" and the basic text of Yoga is the "Yoga Sutra" of Patanjali. We have listed below editions of these tow texts that provide an English translation of the texts with commentary.



  1. The Sankhya Karika of Isvara Krsna edited and translated by S.S. Suryanarayan Sastri (University of Madras) 1987.


  2. Patanjali Yoga: an introduction by T.K.V Desikachar (Affiliated East West Pvt. Ltd., Madras) 1987.


  3. The Bhagawad Gita with text, meaning, notes and comments Sri. Swami Sivananda (The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh) 1949.

The Bhagawad Gita is a very important source book of various schools of Indian thought. It enters into a detailed discussion of the three Gunas - Satva, Rajas and Tamas. There are a large number of edition and translations of the Gita and every important Achaarya has written a commentary. Discussion about the nature of Satva Rajas and Tamas are found in -

Chapter XIV the Yoga of the division of the three Gunas
Chapter XVII The Yoga of the division of the three fold Faith
Chapter XVIII The Yoga of liberation and renunciation.

IV. Scientific Basis of Ayurveda

Throughout this book we have employed the technical terminology of Ayurveda. The following two books provide an introduction of this area to the reader.




  1. The Art and Science of Indian Medicine by G.Srinivasamurthy (Theosophical Publishing House, Madras), 1986, Reprint. Captain G.Srinivasamurthy was a modern medical practitioner who was the Member Secretary to the "Usman Committee" - a committee appointed by the Government of Madras Presidency in 1921 to enquire into the State of Indigenous Medical Practice. This book was first published as an Appendix to the Usman Committee Report.


  2. Local Health Traditions: An Introduction by A.V Balasubramanian and M. Radhika (Lok Swasthya Parampara Samvardhan Samithi, Madras) 1989. The forth chapter deals with the "Scientific Basis of Indian Systems of Medicine".
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