Study on the concept of water as described in ashtangahridaya

When thought about the novel gifts of mother nature the name of “water” comes to our mind with air. No creature in the creation can think life without water. Even the non living objects like soil, stone etc. cannot continue their integrity without water. Hence, the nature has made a system to gift the whole creation with water in different forms. In some places it is made available as rain whereas in some places in other form like ice etc. The heap of ice, in due course converts into water which is used by the users collecting from different sources. Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Ashtanga Sangraha/Ashtanga Hridaya are combinely designated as “Vrihattrayee” of Ayurveda which means “THE BIG THREE”. These three books (Samhita) are containing almost all informations about health prevailed at that time. Charaka was the founder of medicine (Kayachikitsa), Susruta of Surgery (Shalyatantra) whereas Bagbhata is considered as a scholar who gathered knowledge from Charaka Samhita and Susruta Smhita, practised their concepts, did observation and wrote two books Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha. As per available concept Charaka can be considered as of 3000 years B.C., Susruta of 2000 B.C. and Bagbhata of 6th century A.D. Charaka and Susruta, in addition to their specialized works on medicine and surgery, also did research on other topics which is reflected in their Samhitas. Water is also such a substance that is vividly discussed by the two authors with priority. Following their path Bagbhata has also did extensive study on the natural elements like water and documented his experience in Ashtanga Hridaya/Ashtanga Sangraha. With an aim to avoid unexpected length of the article a discussion on water as per Bagbhata as described in Ashtanga Hridaya is taken as the content of this article which is expected to be informative about the concepts of our ancestors on water.