Eminent Texts on Ancient Indian Medicine & Surgery

Eminent Texts on Ancient Indian Medicine & Surgery

🏛️ Foundational Texts (Bṛhat Trayi – The Great Triad)

1. Charaka Saṃhitā – Attributed to Agniveśa and redacted by Charaka; foundational text on internal medicine (Kāyacikitsā). niimh.nic.in
2. Suśruta Saṃhitā – Attributed to Suśruta; seminal work on surgery (Śalyatantra) and anatomy. niimh.nic.in
3. Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya – Composed by Vāgbhaṭa; concise compilation integrating teachings from Charaka and Suśruta.niimh.nic.in+2vedicheritage.gov.in+2wisdomlib.org+2
4. Aṣṭāṅga Saṅgraha – Also by Vāgbhaṭa; more detailed than Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, covering eight branches of Ayurveda.

📖 Other Classical Saṃhitās

5. Bhela Saṃhitā – Attributed to Bhela, a disciple of Atreya; parallels Charaka Saṃhitā in content.
6. Kāśyapa Saṃhitā – Attributed to Kāśyapa; focuses on pediatrics (Kaumāra-bhṛtya) and gynecology. en.wikipedia.org
7. Harita Saṃhitā – Attributed to Harita; emphasizes preventive medicine and daily regimens.
8. Agastya Saṃhitā – Attributed to Sage Agastya; discusses various diseases and treatments.
9. Nāvanīta Kaumudī – A concise text summarizing key Ayurvedic principles.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
10. Mādhava Nidāna – By Mādhavakara; authoritative text on diagnostics and pathology.

🌿 Pharmacological and Materia Medica Texts

11. Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu – Lexicon of medicinal substances attributed to Dhanvantari.
12. Rāja Nighaṇṭu (Abhidhāna Cintāmaṇi) – By Narahari; comprehensive materia medica.
13. Bhāva Prakāśa Nighaṇṭu – Part of Bhāva Prakāśa; details herbs and their properties.
14. Kaiyadeva Nighaṇṭu – By Kaiyadeva Nandī; includes synonyms and properties of drugs.
15. Śodhala Nighaṇṭu – By Śodhala; focuses on medicinal plants.
16. Madana Pāla Nighaṇṭu – By Madanapāla; discusses various herbs and their uses.
17. Rāja Mārtāṇḍa – By King Bhoja; describes mono-herbal preparations. en.wikipedia.org
18. Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā – By Śārṅgadhara; emphasizes pharmaceutical preparations.
19. Rasa Ratna Samuccaya – Comprehensive text on alchemy and mineral preparations.
20. Rasa Hridaya Tantra – By Govinda Bhagavatpāda; discusses principles of Rasaśāstra.

🧪 Rasaśāstra and Alchemical Texts

21. Rasa Jala Nidhi – By Bhudeb Mukhopadhyay; extensive work on alchemy and iatrochemistry.
22. Rasa Prakāśa Sudhākara – By Yashodhara; details preparation of mercury-based medicines.
23. Rasa Tarangiṇī – By Sadananda Sharma; discusses alchemical processes.
24. Rasa Ratnākara – By Nāgārjuna; foundational text on alchemy.en.wikipedia.org
25. Rasa Chandamshu – By Dhundukanatha; elaborates on mercury processing.
26. Rasa Mahodadhi – By Sureshvara; comprehensive guide on alchemical preparations.
27. Rasa Kaumudī – By Somadeva; discusses various alchemical formulations.
28. Rasa Mānañjari – By Dīpika; focuses on mercury and its compounds.
29. Rasa Saṅgraha – By Vaidyanatha; collection of alchemical recipes.
30. Rasa Pradīpa – By Govinda; illuminates principles of Rasaśāstra.

🩺 Specialized Texts on Surgery and Anatomy

31. Śalya Tantra – Sections within Suśruta Saṃhitā; dedicated to surgical techniques.en.wikipedia.org+4wisdomlib.org+4vedicheritage.gov.in+4
32. Śālākya Tantra – Deals with diseases of the head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.en.wikipedia.org
33. Netra Tantra – Focuses on ophthalmology and eye treatments.
34. Śārīra Sthāna – Sections in classical texts discussing anatomy and embryology.
35. Uttaratantra – Later section of Suśruta Saṃhitā; covers various medical topics including pediatrics and ENT.en.wikipedia.org+4en.wikipedia.org+4wisdomlib.org+4
36. Kalpa Sthāna – Discusses toxicology and antidotes.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
37. Cikitsā Sthāna – Therapeutics and treatment methodologies.
38. Nidāna Sthāna – Diagnostics and disease classification.
39. Indriya Sthāna – Prognosis based on sensory perception.
40. Siddhi Sthāna – Success in treatments and procedural outcomes.

👶 Texts on Pediatrics and Gynecology

41. Kaumāra Bhṛtya – Branch focusing on child care and pediatrics.
42. Strī Roga Vijñāna – Studies on gynecological disorders.
43. Prasūti Tantra – Obstetrics and childbirth practices.
44. Bāla Tantra – Child health and diseases.
45. Jīvakapustaka – Attributed to Jīvaka; discusses pediatrics.en.wikipedia.org
46. Kumāra Tantra – Childcare and pediatric treatments.
47. Bāla Roga Nighaṇṭu – Lexicon of pediatric diseases.
48. Strī Roga Nighaṇṭu – Lexicon of women’s diseases.
49. Prasūti Nighaṇṭu – Lexicon focusing on obstetric terms.
50. Garbha Upaniṣad – Discusses embryology and prenatal development.

🌾 Texts on Dietetics and Lifestyle

51. Ahāra Niyama – Guidelines on diet and nutrition.
52. Vihāra Niyama – Lifestyle and daily regimen recommendations.
53. Ritu Carya – Seasonal routines for health maintenance.
54. Dinacarya – Daily routines for health and well-being.
55. Nava Nighaṇṭu – Discusses new dietary substances.
56. Pāka Darśana – Culinary practices and their health impacts.
57. Anna Yoga – Combination of foods and their effects.
58. Bhakṣya Kalpa – Preparation of edible items for health.
59. Peya Kalpa – Preparation of beverages and their benefits.
60. Lehya Kalpa – Preparation of lickable medicinal formulations.

🧘 Texts Integrating Yoga and Ayurveda

61. Yoga Yājñavalkya – Dialogue between Yājñavalkya and Gargi on yoga