Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHHAYA FROM AYURVEDA, JAIN DARSHANA AND CONTEMPORARY SCIENCES

Anamika Sharma*

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Abstract

Ayurveda provides a treasure chest of elegant and insightful tools that can be used to assess the degree of discord, determine its roots and ultimately begin reclaiming the health. The main classical Ayurvedic texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from Gods to sages, and then to human physician. Each section of Charaka Samhita is focusing on the betterment of Ayu. In this context, Indriya Sthana was designed to tell the Ayu of diseased person with the help of Arishta. Acharya Charaka stated many different ways for the prognosis of disease in the section of Charaka Samhita named as Indriya Sthana. Along with Vikruta Lakshana, Prakruta Lakshana is also described in the Sthana. Prognosis on the basis of Chhaya (shadow), Prabha (lustre), Varna (coloration of body) is also stated. Different Arishta which are stated on the basis of Chhaya still exist and their knowledge will add extra marks in the clinical practice of the physician. Hence the concept of Chhaya plays a key role in the prognosis of diseases. The concept of Chhaya mentioned in Pannarupeeya Adhyaya has a remarkable similarity to the concept of Leshya mentioned in Jain Darshana. The concept of Chhaya has a lot of importance in Ayurveda but it seems that enough work has not been done earlier on this concept. Here in this study, the topic of Chhaya from Ayurveda, Leshya from Jain Darshana and Aura from modern science will be considered to enhance the knowledge of these concepts and their role in the disease process and their utility for the maintenance of health.

Keywords: Arishta, Chhaya, Prabha, Varna, Leshya, Aura.