Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Bheshaja – medication
Vyakti – individual
Bheshaja Vyakti are classes of people who find themselves talked about in Sushruta Samhita, who really don’t immediately belong to the medical system however have lent a really helpful hand in evolution of Ayurveda system of drugs as a science, over generations. So far as Ayurveda is anxious, their contribution is immense.
They are often thought of as ‘para-physicians of Ayurveda system of drugs’.
Allow us to see who these persons are whereas exploring the reference from Sushruta Samhita.
Ref – Sushruta Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37, verse 10 (Su.Su.37/10)
Bheshaja Vyakti: 5 necessary Ayurveda Para-physicians
गिपकास्तापसा व्याधा ये चान्ये वनचारिणः ।
मूलाहाराश्च ये तेभ्यो भेषजव्यक्तिरिष्यते ॥१०॥
Bheshaja Vyaktis are individuals who have good information of medicinal herbs and crops and are just like physicians on this manner. They’re referred to as as Bheshaja Vyakti and assist to construct the medical system with their immense contribution.
Under talked about is the record of people who find themselves referred to as as Bheshaja Vyakti.
1. Gopala – are cowherds, individuals who have a tendency cattle. In olden days (even at this time in villages), the cowherds used to take cattle to the forests for grazing them. They need to know which crops are good for cattle and which aren’t. In addition they had information of crops, roots and herbs which has descended by their familial occupation.
2. Tapasa – are ascetics. That they had rejected all riches and comforts of life and have been residing within the forests, of their hermitage. They too had exact information of herbs. Many ascetics knew how one can use them within the type of medicines and put together easy treatments out of herbs and roots accessible of their neighborhood and likewise taught individuals round them. They too handed on this data to their gen-next. They have been in true sense, the ‘mini medical doctors.
3. Vyadha – are hunters. Hunters too are wanderers. Looking was a occupation and a royal passion of the traditional occasions. For the reason that hunters roamed quite a bit within the forests in the hunt for their hunt and meals for his or her household, additionally they learnt concerning the flora to which they’re uncovered to. There have been possibilities and dangers that they get injured or attacked by animals very often after which wanted to know the crops which might are available as fast first-aid for them. These individuals additionally had a exact information of the meat and animal merchandise. Lot of animal merchandise have been additionally used for preparation of medicines and therapies and these individuals have been the supply of that information. In addition they most likely catered them to the physicians.
4. Vanacharina – are individuals who reside and roam round in forests, as in tribal individuals. There may be loads of information of tribal folklore medicines contributing in the direction of evolution of medical science, primarily Ayurveda, from time immemorial. Sure tribes have information of sure units of herbs and roots grown of their geography.
This additionally consists of individuals who wander within the forests or make a residing there, residing by consuming the roots, crops, fruits and so forth. accessible wherever they reside or migrate. These individuals had immense information of the herbs and roots together with what is nice and what not. Some individuals additionally roam in forests to gather roots and herbs.
Hypothetical understanding of ‘Bheshaja Vyakti’ and the possible idea of their evolution within the historical past of evolution of Ayurveda medication
They cope with the medicinal herbs and therefore they’ve ‘bheshaja’ of their title / identify. They don’t seem to be medical doctors, so they don’t seem to be referred to as Vaidya however in reality referred to as as ‘vyakti’ i.e. an individual. These individuals act as a bridge between the pure sources of medicinal crops, forest areas and the doctor who’s in want of these herbs to fabricate medicines. This used to turn out to be useful because the physicians couldn’t wander within the forests to gather the medicinal herbs. So, most likely there was an association that some people who find themselves linked to the forests, who had exact information of medicinal crops, coming from many generations and who have been wanderers have been employed by the physicians. These individuals turned helpers and used to usually acquire and ship the medicinal herbs to the physicians, most likely with a small favor from the doctor within the type of cash, meals grains or free session and remedy for his or her households. So, regardless of these individuals not being medical doctors, they turned necessary members of the medical system and therefore referred to as as bheshaja vyakti. In all probability, in later occasions, this apply of amassing and conveying the herbs to the physicians turned a household affair and possibly a job / occupation or side-job for these forest dwellers. And people individuals handed this data to their subsequent era and the following era of dwellers would serve the following era of physicians in the identical manner.
Some amongst them, like Tapasa – the ascetics, not solely knew concerning the herbs and roots but additionally learnt utilizing them as medicines and likewise serving individuals with easy treatments ready from them. They have been ‘para-physicians’ by all sense they usually served individuals within the neighborhood within the absence of medical doctors round or when the individuals in that point couldn’t journey to cities to fulfill the physician. They have been individuals accessible for ‘firsthand or first-aid assist’ and therefore Bheshaja Vyaktis.
