Talk:Veterinary Science in Ancient India

Introduction

Ayurveda is a science of life that encompasses not only human beings, the most developed form of life, but also all living creatures, including animals. In its broader sense, Ayurveda recognizes veterinary science as equally important as the branch that deals with human health.

Ayurveda recognizes various forms of life, including birds, animals, and plants. Just as it has detailed treatises on human health, Ayurveda also contains extensive works on the care of plants, horses, elephants, cattle, hawks, and other species. In addition to these specialized texts, general medical books in Ayurveda often include sections on veterinary science.

Father of Veterinary Science

Salihotra is regarded as the Father of veterinary science. Similarly, Caraka and Susruta contributed to the development of veterinary medicine, particularly through a treatise known as *Hayayurveda* or *Turangama-sastra*, which focuses on the care of horses. This shows that basic knowledge of veterinary science was part of general medical education in Ayurveda. The inclusive nature of Ayurveda not only recognized veterinary science but also led to the emergence of specialists and dedicated texts within this field.

Duties of a Veterinary Doctor

Veterinary physicians took every precaution against epidemics among the cattle and tried preventive as well as curative medicines. Physicians were also kept ready on the battlefield to treat the animals wounded in the war. Elephant doctors shall administer necessary medicines to elephants who while making a journey, happen to suffer from disease, overwork, rut, or old age. For the welfare and health of these animals which were useful to the human being in many ways, veterinary physicians were engaged to treat the animals in their illness save the society from infection, and keep the animals fit.

Supervisors of Cattle

The superintendent of cows applied remedies to calves or aged cows or cows suffering from the diseases. The superintendent of horses took care of them in the same manner. Once in six months sheep and other animals were shorn of their wool. The same rule shall apply to herds of horses, asses, camels, and hogs. The injunctions were meticulous which was demonstrated in a few instances culled from our vast veterinary science and its ethics. All the superintendents, watchmen, sweepers, cooks, and others received one Prastha of cooked rice, a handful of oil, and two pales of sugar and salt. The doctor would receive 10 Palas of flesh. Animals were scrupulously cared for, while on the journey.

Pinjrapoles

Our modern Pinjarapoles are but the poor and dilapidated relics of these hospitals organized on humane principles. These Pinjarapoles are reminders of the glory that was once borne by the country. Asoka the humanitarian princes organized hospitals for animals and passed orders against cruelty to them.

Law Regulations

The physicians inspected the animals which were for sale in the market to prevent the spread of infection. Meat for sale in the market was also inspected and the sale of putrid or diseased flesh was strictly forbidden using severe punishment for such offenses. The state not only took such measures for the health of the people and the animals in this way, but it imposed fines on the physicians in charge of the animals if they committed a mistake in the treatment due to carelessness or by any other reason. Ill-treatment of animals or even vegetation was not tolerated and fines and punishment were imposed on the miscreants. Anyone who sterilized animals without state permission was severely dealt with.

Visnu Samhita and Parasara Samhita lay down expiatory ceremonies and injunctions for crimes against animals. Punishment was meted out in proportion to the degree of heinousness of the crime e. g. the blood of the killed cow was to be carefully examined and tested to ascertain whether she was lean or diseased when alive, as the nature of punishment varied according to the state of the cow's health at the time of her death. Hence the testing was to be done very carefully.

When one is found guilty of carelessness in the treatment, the disease becomes intense, a fine or twice the cost of the treatment shall be imposed and when owing to defects in medicine, or not administering it the result becomes quite the reverse, a fine equal to the value of the animal shall be imposed. Every possible measure was taken by the state and society to protect their animals from thieves, carnivorous beasts, snakes, pythons, crocodiles, and infectious diseases.

Different Referential Sources

In the Caraka Samhita, we find Veterinary science referred to in Siddhisthana verses. In Harita Samhita also we find the references about fever. It says that fever is an unrivaled disease that affects all the creatures such as horses, elephants, men, beasts, deer, buffaloes, asses, camels, forest trees, creepers, shrubs, mountains, serpents, birds, and mice. This disease which is difficult to cure and destroys life is called fever in this world.

Similarity in Samhitas

The original Sailhotra-Samhita consists of 12000 verses. Salihotra made this treatise on horses consisting of 12000 verses. We also have the same number of verses in Agnivesa Samhita. The similarity does not end with the number of verses. Just as Ayurveda is divided into 8 sections, this science also has been Astanga i. e. divided into eight sections. The treatise of Salihotra gained currency due to its excellence and we find that Agni Purana quotes Salihotra, Matsya, Garuda Puranas, and Hayayurveda also. This Salihotra-samhita has been translated into Persian, Arabic, Tibetan, and English the Persian translation dating as early as 1387 AD. The fame of this work spread into the Near East, and in Persian and Urdu, the word Salotri stands for the horse doctor in their lexicons.

Samhitas on Different Animals

Samhita on Horses

The horse was a very useful animal in the wars and princes took pains to acquire mastery in the science. So veterinary science was not just a subject for professional practitioners. We have several instances of scions of royal dynasties who were famous for their learning in this field. King Nala was so well-versed in the science of horses that he earned the name of Asvavid. Nakula and Sahadeva, the twin sons of Madri, acquired the science from Drona Guru.

Palakapya Samhita

The medical authors attended equally to Elephants and cows besides horses. We have the Palakapya Samhita devoted solely to elephants. It is divided into 4 sections with 152 chapters in total. It comprises more than 10000 verses or 20000 lines and it is almost as big as Caraka Samhita. Such an elaborate treatise gives detailed information about anatomy, surgery, physiology, pathology, major and minor diseases, diet, and the drugs for elephants. We read in the descriptions of the wars of the ancient times that besides horses there were thousands of elephants on the battlefield and that was how the whole literature Hasti-Ayurveda came into existence.

Govaidyaka

Govaidyaka, treatment of the bovine species, is another branch of veterinary science and this too has received full attention in Ayurveda. Similarly, goats and sheep, donkeys and camels, and even hawks were not neglected and we find special branches of treatises on these subjects.

Conclusion

The interdependence of human beings and animals about mutual welfare demands that we should take every possible care of animals in health and disease. With the ancients, the animals were not merely useful but also were treated in the same spirit as family members and well looked after. We should organize and establish efficient service centers to alleviate the ailments of animals. Present-day Panjarapoles should be revived on scientific lines and thus fulfill the duty towards the civilization. This is the base of our ideal of Jiva-daya i. e. Compassion towards all the living creatures for which the country has always stood supreme.

References

• The Caraka Samhita published by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society, Jamnagar, India