Abstract

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF PRAMANA FROM SUSHRUTA SAMHITA W.S.R TO UPAMANA PRAMANA

*Dr. Bhuvneha Sharma, Dr. Veenu Malhotra and Dr. Neelam Verma

Abstract

In Ayurveda, the diagnosis and the treatment of a disease is based on Nidana Pancaka, Atura Pariksha and these consecutively depend upon Pramanas. Pramana refer „means of knowledge‟. Upamana is a pramana in which Knowledge is conveyed by analogies. Analogies are the definitive outlines which usually narrate the gist of a subject. Upamana Pramana has a vital role in describing the concepts of Ayurveda in a simple and understandable level. Acharya Sushruta describe four Pramanas and among the four Pramanas i.e. Pratyaksha (Direct perception), Agama (Teaching of scriptures), Anumama (Inference), Upamana (Analogy). Upamana Pramana is used widely in Ayurvedic literatures. Upamana is having its own importance. Upamana or Aupamya give the knowledge or idea of an object by similar comparison. Upamanas are the analogies or similes that bridge the known to the unknown and after the conceptual system of existing knowledge by modifying and strengthening its associations. So here a sincere effort has been made to evaluate and analyze the Upamana Pramana in a simple way in three aspects i.e., physiological, diagnostic, philosophical aspects.

Keywords: Pramana, Upmana, Aupamya, Sushruta, Analogy.