Clinical Anatomy in Ayurveda

Authors realized the need to write a book on “Clinical Anatomy in Ayurveda”, when they were involved in teaching Anatomy to the post graduate students of Sharir Rachna at state Ayurvedic College, Lucknow. They not only felt the need to write this book but also felt nice to write a book on the subject. Having realized this fact, they started tracing the insight vision concerning Clinical Anatomy available in Ayurvedic literature like that in Charaka, Sushruta, Vagabhat and Sharangadhar Samhita. They succeeded in their attempt and could find out rich subject matter concerning clinical anatomy in Sanskrit quotations mentioned in these texts. Though in many diseased conditions Nidan and Samprapti have been elaborately discussed based on Tridosh theory. But the detailed change in the structural pattern of Anatomy involved in the disease has not been highlighted. Therefore authors have made strenuous efforts to correlate the effects of vitiated Dosh on the diseased organs and their neighbouring structures. Therefore every Ayurvedic professional must know something about the anatomical changes or variations, which follow the process of samprapti before and after the onset of Roga (Disease). He should also know what changes have actually happened at the anatomical level before he plans Chikitsa of a Chikitsa Purush. Because of these lacuna in the knowledge, authors resolved to write this book not only for graduates or postgraduates students but also for Ayurvedic clinicians.  Authors are happy to present this book in the hands of Ayurvedic scholars and hope that the book will prove most useful.  The present book is the most exploring book on the human anatomy from Ayurvedic point of the view while correlating the same with the modern knowledge acquired over the period of time. The book is one of the most delightful treats for an inquisitive mind wishing to understand the anatomy of the human body with the deep rooted knowledge as described in Ayurvedic texts by great scholars of all times including Sushurta Samhita Charak Samhita, Ashtang Hridaya and others. This book is an earnest attempt to explore the knowledge to its deepest origin based on the principle of 'believe in what you see' or in other words how Ayurvedic scientists look into the body, what they conceived, perceived and observed. The author has critically taken not of all the descriptions and after correlating the same with his own experienced acquired over five decades of his association with Ayurveda and has tried to present the most impartial and acceptable view regarding the mysteries of human body. The whole book has been prepared on the basis of different disciplines of human anatomy such as Garbh Sharir, Sira Dhamni Sharir, Srotas Sharir, Asthi Sharir, Marma Sharir, Peshi Sharir, Indriya Sharir, Tantrika Sharir, etc. This chapterwise description is again important for graduate and postgraduate level scholars of Ayurveda. From the examination point of view of the book covers the syllabus approved by the Central Council of Indian Medicine, Delhi and a number of other Universities and Colleges imparting the education in the faculty of Ayurveda.  Attempt has been made to provide a systematic stream of knowledge which may be able to develop scientific intent in the minds of the readers.  The author feels that with the changing global scenario and transformation of the world into global village, it becomes imperative to come up with an authorartive text on Ayurvedic, which may be able to provide opportunity to those coming from non-Hindi speaking regions of India as well as from abroad. Understanding of human anatomy is the very basis for initiating a study into any healthcare system. Ayurveda is no exception, however there has been an earnest requirement for providing a good Ayurvedic text book on human Anatomy with pictorial presentation. The present book fills the void.