An Insight On The Book ‘Vaidyavallabha’ of Vaidya Hastiruchi

By Dr M S Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu)PhD.

About the book

• The text ‘Vaidya vallabha’ is an authoritative work on Ayurveda therapeutics written by Vaidya Hastiruchi.
• It belongs to the time period of 1673-1726 AD.
• Treatments of different ailments are addressed in simple and unique way in 274 verses spread over 8 chapters.
• Two years after the period of Vaidya Hastiruchi, Meghabhatta of 17^th century wrote the Sanskrit commentary on Vaidya vallabha.
• Today, several manuscripts are available in the name of Vaidya vallabha at different oriental institutes across the country. At the same time, many data bases also have different manuscripts in the name of Vaidya vallabha. Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute has 5 Vaidya vallabha manuscripts authored by Hastiruchi which are in Sanskrit language whereas Digital Library of India has 2 Vaidya vallabha works which are in Gujarati language.
• The book was published by Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi in the year 2002 which is in Hindi

Commentary written by Rasavaidya Maheshwar Vyasa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• The author,Vaidya Hastiruchi is a Jain scholar.
• Mahopadhyaya Hitaruchi, resided with his Guru Thapagaccha, which he has mentioned in the ending colophon of first chapter.
• Based on various evidences, the author is said to belong to the Kaathiyavadi region of Gujarat and hence several Kaathiyavadi terms can be seen in various contexts of the text viz. Hingaari (Ingudi), Thandulaka (Thanduliyaka), Sitala chini (Kababa chini), Hima abhaya (Harithaki of small size) etc.

Read – Acharya Sushruta: Work, Samhita, Legacy, Amazing Facts

CHAPTERS (VILASA)

The 8 vilasas are :

1.Sarva jwara prathikara nirupanam – 28 shlokas
2.Streeroga chikitsa nirupanam – 35 shlokas
3.Kasa swasa kshaya visphota pama dadru rakthapitta pratikara nirupanam – 30 shlokas
4.Purusharthakarana adhikara – 27 shlokas

5.Gudaroga antravrudhyadi prathikara nirupanam – 24 shlokas
6.Udararoga-kushta-visha-pleeha-gulma-jeerna jwara-pandu-kamaladi prathikara nirupanam – 26 shlokas
7.Siroroga-karnaakshimukha-gutha-vaalaka-shwana visha prabhruthi prathikara nirupanam – 45 shlokas

8.Avashishta prathikara prayoga nirupanam – 57 shlokas
Total number of verses – 272 shlokas Read – Acharya Vagbhata: Work, Text Books, Legacy, Amazing Facts

Sarvajwara prathikara nirupanam Before prathama vilasa, he starts the book with the verse of offering prayers to Vagdevi Saraswathi and salutations to his Guru. Thereafter, the prathama vilasa is started by mentioning about vaidya karthavya:

kashaya recipes

Author mentions that fever is the strongest among all the diseases. The order in which the treatment should be given is mentioned as: ‘Purgation – Fasting – Bheshaja lepana (administration of pacifying formulations)’ Read – Charaka – Jwara Chikitsa 3rd Chapter

Various kashaya recipes mentioned are:

1)Amrutadi kwatha – Vata jwara 2)Drakshadi kwatha – Pitta jwara 3)Vasadi kwatha – Kapha jwara 4)Mustamritadi kwatha – Vela jwara 5)Musthadipanchabhadra kwatha – Vatapitta jwara 6)Dhanyakadi kwatha – Kaphapitta jwara 7)Bhoonimbadi kwatha – Sannipatha jwara 8)Shakrahvadi kwatha – Sheetha jwara 9)Krishnadi kwatha – Swasa kasayuta jwara 10)Khaandadi kwatha – Atisara jwara Read – How To Do Fasting? A Step By Step Guide For You

Chathurthika jwara Nasya prayoga of asafoetida along with old ghee repeatedly.

Ekanthara jwara Internal administration of dhatura leaves juice along with ½ pala (24 ml) of curd before food.

Jwarahara tantram – Trutheeyajwara nashanam On Sunday, Shatavari moola is tied to a thread by the spouse or girl and worn by the patient on his hand and neck.

Sarva jwara

a)Anjana with paste of asafoetida, nimba bija majja, krishna sarpa kanchuki which is grinded with donkey’s urine. b)Application of lepa of kirata, Salt, ginger, kushta, sandalwood, vaalaka on head. Read – Uses Of Animal Urine As Per Ayurveda

2.Streeroga chikitsa nirupanam

For conception, woman is advised to take : Sagarbha mahishi dugdha (pregnant buffalo’s milk) with goat’s urine. Rudra jata (Vata moola) along with cow’s ghee during menstruation. Powder of nagakesara and cumin along with cow’s ghee for 3 days

In Vandhya (sterility)-

On Sunday, Sarpakshi along with its roots and leaves triturated in cow’s milk and is administered in dose of 24 ml for 7 days.

Pathya : Gheeram (paysam), sugar candy, sweet food

Apathya: Anxiety, fear, grief, day sleep, heavy work, cold and exposure to sun. Read – Importance Of Diet (Pathya) For Specific Diseases

e) Devadali moola (collected during pushya nakshatra) along with cow’s milk

For male progeny, intake of :

a) Pippala seed powder along with cow’s ghee (even during menstrual period)

b) Vandhyakarkotika moola along with cow’s ghee Read – 60 Benefits Of Ghee, Side Effects, Contra Indications

For Garbha sthirikarana to stabilise the fetus in the case of repeated abortion

a) Tila, sarkara, padmakanda along with honey

b) Dhataki pushpa kwatha along with sugar candy for 3 days starting from Sunday Read – Herbs Useful For Maintenance Of Pregnancy

For Garbhavridhi (for proper growth of the fetus)

Hibiscus flower along with cold water

Equal quantity of shatavari, vishwa, ashwagandha, madhooka, bhringaraja with goat’s milk

Yoni sankochakara prayoga (to re establish the vagina after delivery or prolapse)

Gutika prepared by triturating katuthumbi patra along with loha bhasma is kept in yoni.

Garbhapatakara prayoga (for abortion)

a) Kwatha of pippali, pippali moola, kshudra, nirgundika and gavakshi (Indravaruni)

b) Intake of linseed oil along with jaggery

c) Intake of 1 pala (48 gram) of guggulu along with sesame oil

d) Keeping gavakshi moola (Indravaruni moola) in vagina

Phalapushpa dosha nivarana prayoga (to overcome the fetal defects)

a) Intake of 1 pala (48 gram) of majja of amalaki beeja along with sugar candy for 3 days

b) Intake of dugdhi moola along with goat’s urine for 3 days

Garbha prathibandha prayoga (to prevent abortion)

a) Wearing dhatura moola on waist which is collected on pushya nakshatra

b) Intake of cold water mixed with palasha seed calx

Guhya loma nivarana prayoga (as a hair removal)

Pralepa of shuni dugdha (latex of euphorbia)

Nashtapushpagama prayoga (in cryptomenarchae)

Intake of powder of asafoetida, sauvarchala, vyosha, bharngi along with luke warm water. Read – Trikatu Churna Benefits, Dose, Remedies, Side Effects

Yoni shothahara prayoga (vaginitis)

Application of paste prepared by triturating ginger, punarnava root in goat’s ghee.

Prasava shoola peeda (delivery pain)

Keeping modaka prepared with punarnava leaves.

Sutika sarvarogahara kwatha (puerperal care)

Decoction prepared out of the drugs-tikta, daru, vacha, shigru, trikatu, arka moola, dashamoola is beneficial.

3. Cough, Asthma, emaciation, blisters, scabis, bleeding disorders prathikara nirupanam

Swasa kaphapaha – for asthma

Tablet prepared with clove, pepper and triphala which is triturated in babbula bark decoction. Read – Shwasa Roga Chikitsa: Ayurvedic Treatment, Medicines

Cough and asthma

a) Daily intake of Shringavera juice with honey

b) Katu taila along with jaggery.

Emaciation and cough Decoction of aswagandha, amrita, cumin, dasamoola, bala, vrusha, pushkara, ativisha.

Breathlessness, cough and emaciation

a) Powder of sarkara, pippali, raisins, sesame, vasa

b) Powder of guduchi satva, tamra bhasma, along with vasa juice cures the disease within 3 days.

Oedema

The incurable symptoms of oedema in male and female are mentioned before mentioning the yogas.

a) Paste of punarnava, neem, vishwa, patola triturated in water

b) Decoction of punarnava, abhaya, daru, eranda prepared with cow’s urine Read – Edema – Ayurvedic Understanding, Treatment, Home Remedies

Boils and blisters

a) Intake of Arka moola bhasma (1 pala) and Haratala bhasma for 7 days.

Pathya : Chanaka along with milk porridge

b) Paste of cardamom, jatiphala and copper sulphate triturated in ghee.

c) Paste of burnt ash of goat’s dung

Bleeding disorders

a) Haratala bhasma with sarpakshi rasa cures bleeding disorders within 7 days.

b) Khari dugdha mixed with sugar candy and administered for 7 days.

4. Purusharthakarana adhikara

Includes virya vridhi-stambhana, gatakama prapti, diabetes, mutrakruchra, sishna vrudhi, sthulakaranaadi varnana

Virya vrudhikara prayoga (for envigorating)

a) Modaka prepared with aswagandha, sesame, black gram, mahoushadha, jaggery and ghee.

b) Ksheerapaka of powder of sesame and gokshura added with honey (after it is cooled) Read – Ayurveda Mahodadhi: Legumes Green Gram, Chickpea, Peas

Gatakama prapti (for improving the sexual stamina)

Powder of krishna, musali kanda along with honey and ghee

Dustara pramehahara yoga (urinary disorders)

Equal quantity of powder of rasna and pippali along with sugar candy cures chronic urinary disorders within 3 days.

Mutrakruchra (urinary calculi)

½ pala (24 gram) of Surya kshara along with sugar candy.

Ashmari (urinary calculi)

Yava kshara along with sugar candy and cow’s buttermilk.

Sishna vrudhikara yoga (to increase the penile size)

a) Paste of equal quantity of vacha, kushta, ashwagandha, gajapippali mixed with butter. b) Paste of Suvarna beeja powder triturated with sesame oil

Sarvendriyarogahara yoga (to relieve the majority of the diseases of uro -genital system) Nagabhasma along with sugar candy for 7 days

Ano-rectal disorders

5.To treat anal disorders and internal abscess

Grahani (mal absorption), fever, diarrhoea and bleeding

Mango seed, vishwa, go shringa ankura triturated in mango juice for 3 days is given along with sugar candy.

Arsas (haemorrhoids)

Bhallathaka avaleha in dose of ½ pala (24 gram); in practice 3-5 gram is administered.

Mentioned various bhallathaka vikara shamana formulations like

a) Paste of daru, mustard, mustha along with butter

b) Internal administration of nimbuka rasa along with sugar candy or dhatri patra rasa with sugar candy

Worm infestation

a) Intake of 10-20 ml of mahanimba leaf juice

b) Administration of warm water mixed with saindava, ativisha and vidanga. Read – Ayurvedic Treatment For Worm Infestation

Fistula in ano Paste of laghu amra patra which is triturated in donkey’s blood.

Antra vrudhi (hernia)

a) Paste of saindhava, jeeraka dwaya, asafoetida which is triturated in water (double the quantity of drugs) and sesame oil.

b) Intake of kirata tikta along with milk or punarnava along with water Read – Ayurvedic Management of Inguinal Hernia

6.Abdominal disorders, skin diseases, poisoning, spleen disorders, heart diseases, gaseous tumors, chronic fever, anaemia, jaundice etc)

Ascitis – Vajrabhedi rasa

Powder of equal quantity of chitraka, trivrit, danti, triphala, trikatu along with dwiguna of snuhi ksheera is made to undergo mrudu agnipaka and is made into gutika of gunja pramana.

Dose : 5 gutikas is given for virechana

Ashtadasha kushta (major skin diseases)

Paste prepared by triturating gunja, bhallathaka, Vatsanabha, nimba phala majja in buttermilk is applied. Read – Charak Samhita Kushta Chikitsa – 7th Chapter

Swetha kushta (vitiligo)

Paste prepared with bhasma of kshudra and dhataki pushpa which is mixed in Mustard oil is applied.

Nagaphena visha (Ahiphena- opium poisoning)

Intake of Sarpakshi moola swarasa; Bhringaraja juice along with ghee;

Vacha and asafoetida with buttermilk.

Scorpion bite

Gutika prepared with churna of karkotika, arka, nagaphena, nagara triturated in Snuhi dugdha.

Splenic disorders

Intake of sarji kshara, yava kshara, souvarchala which is triturated in limbu rasa.

Jaundice

Pana of dadhi neera mixed with donkey’s dung. Read – Kamala Roga Chikitsa: Liver Disorder Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Anemia and jaundice

Intake of thandulodaka bhavitha varna taru moola (varuna) along with honey.

7.Shiroroga-karna akshi mugha-gootha-vaalaka- shwana visha prabhriti prathikara nirupanam

Headache

a) Application of paste of sandalwood, salt, ginger which is grinded in water.

b) Bhrungaraja juice and kushta mixed with butter is heated and is then used for application.

Migraine

Equal quantity of Magadhi, pepper and lodhra is grinded in water and is given as nasya for 3 days. Read – Migraine – Ayurvedic treatment, Herbs, Home Remedies

All kind of eye diseases

Tablet prepared by triturating with lemon juice along with the ingredients like saindhava, triphala, pippali, rodhra; used as collyrium for the eyes.

Karna roga (ear diseases)

a) Oil prepared with dhatura leaves is put as drops into ears.

b) Juice of warmed arka leaves is dropped into ears. Read – Ayurveda Eye Treatment Types, Methods – Astanga Hrudaya Sutrasthana 23

Wound in nose

Repeated administration of nasya with ghee.

Frequent application of paste prepared with kampilla by grinding in water.

Kantaka on vadana in taruna vaya (acne)

Application of maya phala grinded in rice washed water.

Mukhasosha (dryness of the mouth)

Tablet prepared with cardamom triturated in gooseberry juice is kept in mouth.

Chala danta (loose teeth)

Application of maya phala powder everyday. Read – Ayurvedic Way Of Teeth Brushing And Tongue Scraping

Snayu roga in vaalaka (neurological disorders in children)

Intake of faecal matter of pigeon or hen along with jaggery for 7 days.

Ear wax and chronic wounds

Bones of camel, kumkuma, naga bhasma is grinded in ghee and is applied.

8.Avashishta prathikara prayoga nirupanam (miscellaneous formulations)

Snake bite

Paste of asafoetida and vacha is applied on arm and fore arm. Thereafter, the snakes won’t bite even if it is caught in hand. It is both preventive and curative.

Sarpa nivarana dhoopanam

Fumigation with the skin of the serpents mixed with vacha – Acorus calamus is done to ward off snakes. Read – Wound Healing – Ayurvedic Home Remedy For Wound Pain And Itching

Malla visha (Arsenic poisoning)

a) Intake of thanduliyaka swarasa along with sugar candy b) Intake of lemon juice

Dhatura visha (dhattura poisoning)

1 pala (48 grams) of vrinthaka phala beeja rasa (brinjal seed) Read – Why Eggplant Is Bad For Patients With Skin Diseases?

Haratala visha (yellow orpiment poisoning) Sarpakshi rasa along with sugar candy

Mrugi roga (Apasmara) (epilepsy) a) Nasya with vanara-kapota-tittiri vit (faeces of monkey-pigeon or tittira bird)

b)Nasya with soap nut grinded in human urine or Tankana grinded in cow’s urine or asafoetida grinded in elephant’s urine.

 Krishna kesha vriddhi (for hair growth)

Mango seed and gooseberry are grinded in water and is applied on hair. Read – Ayurvedic Hair Care – Principles, Herbs, Oils And Medicines

Mukha Chaya (Vyanga) (melasma) Paste of samanga, pita sarshapa and gokshura grinded in goat’s ghee.

 Pada vrana (foot ulcers)

Mani, sarja rasa, soap mixed in ghee Application of sesame or vata dugdha Read – Ayurvedic Treatment For Freckles And Melasma

Damaru vata, janu jatha ruja, sandhivata, karna shoonya, manya vata (vatic disorders)

Naga taila: Oil prepared with powder of Naga, kushta, kana, ushana Read – Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Making: Principles, Method, Examples, Demo

Garbhamrita churna in Vandhya, kakavandhya (sterility) Kalinga, triphala, vyosha, saindhava, red sandalwood, dvijeeraka, ashwagandha.

Guggulu, dvikaranja beeja, neeli, bhasma of ashwa vit, ushtra vit and khara vit are made into powder and is administered along with water.

Hikka (hiccup) a) Intake of ginger with jaggery b) Magadhi with sugar candy c) Madhuka powder with honey Read – Ayurvedic Home Remedy For Hiccup

Vatic disorders and arthritis

Tablet prepared by triturating guggulu and hingula is taken along with cow’s milk. Read – Early Stage Of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ayurvedic Treatment, Remedies

SPECIAL TERMS USED

 For diseases

Vela jwara : Fever occurring at particular times in a day Shasha gada : Soma roga Nasoora : Wound in nose Bhrama vata : Vertigo Granthi vata : Painful inflammatory swelling Mrigi vata : Epilepsy Mahamrigi vata : Grand mal epilepsy Mukha cchaya : Vyanga Damaru vata : Parkinson’s disease

For plants

Hamsapada: Hingula Kubjavata : Dronapushpi Kareli : Karavellaka Roudra : Vata Jasooda kusuma : Japa pushpa Naga : Vatsanabha Renuka : Parpata Kherasara : Khadira sara Varnataru : Varuna Java : Yava Akallaka : Aakarakarabha Kamaphala : Madanaphala Vanavriksha : Karpasa Nepali : Jayapala

OTHER TERMS

Mari pramana : Measurement similar to the size of Piper nigrum Rodha : Lid / Mud plate Pudi : Bhasma Lindika : Vit Gootha : Offensive exudate from wound Saabu : Soap

MERITS

• The medicinal preparations mentioned are unique, special and simple which are the meritorious aspects of this text.
• Many drugs which are easily and locally available are given much importance in the treatment of diseases.
• The method and uniqueness of naming some of the diseases in the text stand differently.
• The method of narration is simple and so is easily understandable.

Read – How To Understand And Master Ayurvedic Medicines Easily

DEMERITS

• The specific terms used in the text are difficult to understand.
• The number of medicinal formulations mentioned is less compared to that in other classical texts.
• The formulations are mentioned only for a limited number of diseases.
• The diseases included in each chapter and the order in which the diseases are mentioned in each successive chapters are not arranged in systematic manner.
• Most of the diseases for which the treatments are mentioned earlier in their respective chapters are repeated again in the later chapters.

Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy by email.