Bull. Ind. lnst, Hist. Med. Vol. XVII.

pp, 89-93

MEDICINE AND ALLIED SCIENCES IN

SIVATATTVARATNAKARA

K. R. SRIKANTA MURTHY*

ABSTRACT
Information on medicine and many other sciences is
,
available in non-medical literature which deserves the attention of
scholars. Slvatattvaratnjikar a is an encyclopaedic work by
Basavappa Nayaka who ruled from Keladi in Karnataka from 1694
to 1714 A. D. The treatise in nine sections is a compilation from
various earlier texts and covers varied subjects like cosmology,
astronomy, horticulture, medicine, alchemy, weaponry, erotics,
vocational livelihood, sports and pastime and philosophy etc.
Medicine and allied subjects are elaborated in 5th, 6th and 7th
sections. Some of the sources mentioned are Vatsyayana, Gauri,
Hasaratnakara, Har arnekhala, Vagbha~a, Vidyanath T ya etc.

It is common knowledge that the 12th cent. A. D. and also the

good amount of information on medical lore in Sanskrit dramas,
medicine and many other sciences ar thasastra etc. Here is an attempt.
is available in the non-medical to aquaint the interested, with
literature of our country and this references to medicine and allied
has not been given ths attention it sciences from another great work -
deserves. Dr. D. V. Subba Reddy the Sivatattvaratnakara.
had been very rightly pointing out
the urgent need of such stud ies Similar to Manasollasa. the
especia lly by those interested in Slvatattvar atnukara is also an ency-
history of Indian medicine. He clopaedia of ancient Indian learning.
initiated it by getting published, Its author - Basavappa Navaka (Basa-
the medical portion of Manasollasa- vabhupala or Basavaraja) was a
a popular encyclopaedic work of famous king of a feudal state of
*27, III Cross Road, Ramakrishnapuram, Bangalore-560 009.
90 Bulletin Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XVII

Keladi (also known as Ikkeri and phical, religious, literary, scientific,

Bidanur) which comprised of the historical, social and others. Impor-
coastal areas of Karnataka in the tant among the sciences dealt with
east. He ruled from 1694 to 1714 are - cosmology, astronomy, meteor-
A. D. and brought prosperity to the ology, geology, agriculture, horticul-
kingdom. He belonged to Vlrasaiva ture, medicine - human, veterinary
sect and revived ancient Hindu and horticultural, chemistry, alche-
tradition. He was a grsc:t scholar my, metallurgy pyrotechniques,
and a patron of learning. He is the weaponry, defence sciences, toxico-
author of two more works also- logy, er otics. astrology, town-
viz., Subhasita SLii2Ci:11IT'D in Sens- planning, public health and sanita-
krit end Suktisudhakarc in Kznnada tion, statecraft, finance, trade and
Ia nquag e. But his magnum opus is commerce, vocations of livelihood,
undcubtedly the Sivatettvaratr.akara.x sports and pastime, arts and crafts
The treatise Wf.'S in·:cr.(:cc: 10 edu- etc. Philosophical systems and
cate his son, PI ince ~;cr(dekhara doctrines, religions, worship of gods,
Navaka, in all branches cf ancient traditions, etc. me also dealt with.
Indian knowledge. In addition to ancient knowledge,
it also describes contemporary mat-
The treatise consists of nine te rs such as history of Vijayanagar
kallolas (tide e section), ecch one empire, the kingdoms of Keladi.
having many taran qas (waves = Mysore and Coorg; the colonisation
chapters) which are one hundred of Portuguese, French and British,
and eight in total, with an impres- Iife and achievements of Basavaraja.
sive number of thirty thousand the 12th century saint - minister of
verses of different meters, in Sans- King Bijjala of Kalyana and the pro-
krit language. As can be expected, paqator of Vlrasaivisrn. the doctrines,
it is a compilation from various philosophy and rituals of that sect,
earlier texts and the author has etc., the chapters on these subjects
magnanimously enumerated his being interspersed in the text. Thus
sources at the end of every section. with a brief description of everything
Commencing with the Vedas, the under the sun (including the Sun
sources extend over the whole gamut also) this voluminous treatise stands
of ancient Indian literature - philoso- out as a useful reference manual of
Indology.
1. It was first published by the Govern-
ment Oriental Manuscript Library, Madras in Medicine (Ayurveda) and some
19n. Its second and revised edition has been
sciences allied to it, form the chief
brought out by the Oriental Research Institute,
Univer sitv of Mysore in 1965 (Vol. I), 1969
subject matter of the fifth, sixth and
(Vol. II) and 1972 (Vol. III). seventh kal lolas (sections). The
Sivatattvaratnnkara-Srikanta Murthy 91

following table furnishes the details Taranqa (Chapter) 17

of topics found therein.
Ratnasastra (gemology) tests of
precious stones, valuation etc.-187
Kallola (Section) 5 verses.

Taranqa (Chapter) 1 Taranqa (Chapter) 18

Kalajflana (foretelling) and ari~!alak- Vividha ahara (different kinds of

sana (signs of oncoming death)-145 food)
verses.
Vi~apari!,~a (tests for poisonous
foods, drinks, etc )-315 verses.
Taranqa (Chapter) 2
Svapnaphala (auspicious and inaus- Taranqa (Chapter) 19
picious dreams, their effects and Bhaksva Nirmana - Preparation of
remedies)-72 verses. different kine's of eatables, dishes
etc.-315 verses.
Taranqa (Chapter) 3
Taranqa (Chapter) 20
Sakuna (auspicious and Inausplcious
omens and remedial measures)-115 Bhojanavidhi (dietetics) Tambula,
verses. Sayyabhoga (chewing of beetle-
leaf, comfort sleeping) etc.-194
Taranga, (Chapter) 10 verses.

Upavana Vinoda (horticulture and Taranqa (Chapter) 21

Botony)-141 verses.
Medicine (Valdvasastra) Ayurveda
and its eight branches, tridosasiddh-
Taranqa (Chapter) 11
anta. Nadlparlksa (pulse reading)
Tarucikitsa - Vrksavurveca (horticul-
tural medicine)-97 verses. Ausadha gU1)3S (materia medica)
Ausadhasanqrahana (procedure of
Taranqa (Chapter) 12 & 13 collecting herbs)-208 verses.

Karnasastra (Sexology)-139 verses. Taranqa (Chapter) 22

Taranqa (Chapter) 14, 15 & 16
Upabhogas - pleasures of gandha
(perfumes) rnalva (garlands) vastra
(dress) abhusana (jewels) etc.-283
verses.
Pathya ahara (suitable and healthy
foods & drinks) - iatrochemistry-
Mahar asas (Ores and minerals),
Lohas (metals) (their purification,
oxidation, etc.) eight famous mineral
medicinal formulae-129 verses.
S2 Bulletin Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XVII

Tarailga (Chapter) 23 Taranqa (Chapter) 9

Alchemy (rasavana) - rasa (mercury) Physiognomy (female)-145 verses.
its kinds, habitat, purification, wor-
ship etc. Sadharana rasas (salts, Taranga (Chapter) 10
alkalies, etc. and their purification,
Physiognomy (male)-207 verses.
incineration (calcination) etc.-141
verses. Taranqa (Chapter) 11

Taranqa (Chapter) 24 Gajasastra - Gajacikitsa (science of

elephants, their treatment)-225
Alchemy (contd) - rasasamska ras
verses.
(The 18 mercurial operations) prepa-
ration of elixirs of life - transumuta-
Taranqa (Chapter) 12
tion of metals etc. -195 verses.
Asvasastra - Asvacikitsa (science of
Taranqa (Chapter) 25 horses, their treatment) - 479
Alchemy (contd) - Hasasala (labora- verses.
tory) Yantra, musa. pura etc. (appa-
Taranqa (Chapter) 13
ratus and other appliancesj-B? verses.
Go - pasucikitsa (science of cow &
Tar anqa (Chapter) 26 cattle, their treatment etc.)-479
Toxicology (visa - vijnana) - kinds of verses.
snakes, scorpions etc.-1 09 verses.
Taranga (Chapter) 15
Taranqa (Chapter) 27 Yoqasastra - Hathavoqa - asanas etc.
Toxicology (visacikitsa) - Treatment of -192 verses.
snake - bite and po isons of other
poisonous animals) - vegetable and Apart from these, many other
artificial poison etc.-142 verses. subjects related to personal and
community health, sanitation, moral
Kallola lSection) 7 and right conduct, philosophy of life
Taranqa (Chapter) 7 etc., are described in other chapters
also.
Paediatrics - Kumarabharana (bringing
up of children, child care etc.)-124 Some of the authors and treatises
verses. enumerated as sources at the end of
the sixth and seventh sections are
Taranga (Chapter) 8 Vatsvavana, Sarngadhara, Nala,
Horasastra, .Jatakaphala - Horoscope, Gauri, Dhanvantari, Asvins, Rasarat-
Astrology etc.-128 verses. nakara, Hssahrdava. Haramekhala,
Sivatattvaratnakara-Srikanta Murthy 93
Merutantra, Manasollasa, Kautuka- the value and importance of this
cintamani, Vagbho~a, Arnrtanandi, great work. A critical study is
Dasarupaka. Vidvanathlva etc.
sure to furnish more knowledge both
This brief survey is enough to to the physician and medical historian
convince the medical scientists about alike.

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