VIRECHANA KARMA IN INDIAN LITERATURE*

byR. M. ANAND·· and G. K. GURJAR·"

Introduction:

Vedic literature, Buddhist pitakas and Jain Agamas contain references to pancha-karma Cikitsa. The division of treatment into daivavypasraya and Yuutivyapasraya inAyurveda is traceable to Vedic literature. Kausika Sutra refers to panchakarma Cikit-sa which explains its practices during Sutra period. Virechana karma is one of thepanchakarma cikitsas.

The word 'virechana' is a verbal nouri and is formed from root rica with vi as theprefiix and lyut as suffix. This means that the suffix is applied both in the sense ofkarana and adhikarana i.c. the instrumenta I and locative cases. Sometimes it meansthe process of virechana also; then the suffix lyut is taken in the sense of bhava i.e.abstraction. All the three shades of the meaning of the term virechana help to under-stand the function of virechana together with its agent and location.

Vledic sources of virechana and its importance

Though the other karmas are mentioned at length in Atharva veda KaushikaSutra, tbe process of virechona is not left out. The Kandika 29 titled 'sarvavishobhaishajyam' makes repeated reference to the process of vlrechana to combat theafter effects of poisons. This virechana is always administered in the form of an oil ordecoction or powder or any suitable form. The worm treatment(krimi bhaishajyam)alsopoints to the similar approach. It should be noted tbat the charm system also wasmentioned in Kaushika Sutra in the Pitta-Jwarabhaishajyam (K. Sur. Kandika 30).Virechana karma is the treatment of choice in the vitiation of pitta.

Buddhist source

Buddhist literature also contains description for the Virechana cikitsa, Jiwaka wasmentioned as proficient in the application of purgative methods. He administeredthis treatment using lotus flower soaked with medicine (Maha Vagga VIII 7:11).

Incidence of Virechena :

At ODetime, tbe bumours of the Tathaghata's body were disturbed and hewanted to take a purgative. Venerable Ananda went to Jiwaka for this. Jiwakaadvised to rub his body with fat for some days. Having done this, Ananda went againto Jiwaka for advice on further course of treatment. Thinking that he should not

• Presented in Iuternational Seminar on Ayurveda held at Patiala in April, 1975.•• Asst. Research Officer, Pancbakarma Research Scheme (CCRIMH), R.R.A. Podar Ayurvedic

Research Institute, Worli, Bombay-400018.••• Professor of Sanskrit & Padatthavijnyana' R.A.Podar Medical College (Ayur.), Worli, Bombay-

-400018.

38 Bulletin Ind. Inst. tun. Med. Vol. VI

give a strong purgative to the Blessed Tathagata, he imbued three handful of bluelotus with various drugs and went to the place where the Blessed one was. Havingapproached him, he gave the first handful of lotus flowers saying Lord, 'May theBlessed-one smell this first handful of lotuses tbat will purge the Blessed one tentimes'. Then he offered 2nd bandful of lotuses saying same and similarly offered alsotbe third handful of lotuses and said thus tbe Blessed-one will purge fully thirty times.After this Jiwaka bowed before the blessed, passed round him with his right sidetowards him and went away. Jiwaka Kaumabhacha, when he went out of the pre-sence of the Lord thought that he had given indeed a purgative for full thirty timesas humours of Tatbagata's body are disturbed, but it will not purge the Blessed-one full thirty times: it will purge him only twenty nine times. But the Blessed-onehaving purged, will take a bath; the bath will purge him once and thus he will havefull thirty times. Likewise it happendd: he purged 29 times and then he took bathand the bath purged him once and thus the Blessed-one purged full thirty times.

After this Jiwaka told the Blessed-one to abstain from liquid food till the bodywas completely restored and so it happened.

The words ayushya and sramasdevamalapaha explain the role of bath as disclosedin the account of Lord Budha given above. It is further surprising to note thatJiwaka was well versed in ascertaining the number of vegas of a particular purgativedrug used by him in the virechana process, having taken into account the type ofconstitution with preponderance of doshas were given. Purgative drugs with corres-ponding potency were given. The purgative used was if strong, even standard small dosegiven in the form of snuff was quite effective. Lord Budha was further advised byJi waka to abstain from liquid food until his body was completely restored. Thus theJiwaka episode throws light on the use of vlrechena with minute observations andskill in actual administration of the purgative drugs.

Kautilya's Artha Sbastra :

The Artha Shastra of Kautilya gives a brief account of some recipes in connec-tion with Panchakarma. Kautilya lays down a small number of purgative drugs in the13th and 14th chapter of Artha Shastra.

PIII"aINlS on VirecbanB :

An account on Vlrechana karma is available in the Agni and Garuda puranas.This indicates of wide and general use of Virechana karma in different diseases. Tocombat visarpa and jwara use of ghee prepared with a decoction of triphala andmixed with trivrit (Operculina turpethum) was recommended. Use for Haritaki(Terminalia chebula) mixed with equal weight of guda mixed with honey was aneffecti ve recipe for purgation. Garuda purana emphatically supports the Ayurvedicview of using Virechana always preceded by snehana and swedana karmas. Generally itis held that' 'pitto virecanam srestham" but Agni purana makes a reference to aVirechana to remove superfluity of kapha dosha (Agni Parana page 2~5/33). Persons

Virechana in Indian Literature=-Anand & Gurjar 39suffering from heart disease benefit by the use of virechana (Agni Purana page263/26)

The following tables show the herbal ingredients of virecana kalpas in differentdiseases from Agnipurana and Garudapurana.

VIRECHANA KALPA" GARUDA PURANA

Indication Drugs Accompaniment Reference

Kushtha

Vata Vikara

Pitta Dosa

Visarpa

Jwara

Urostambha

General

"

"

Trivrita, Dantl

Trivrita

Trivrita, Haritaki

Trivrtla, Triphala

Triphala-Madhu

171/13

171/14

172-38

172-39

17/-37

171-37

183/5

183/4

193/13

193//3

Sunthi-Vidanga

"Trtpha/a

Haritaki

Triphala

Haritaki

Citraka, Katurohini

Guda,MaQhu

Draksa

Eavana, Ushnodaka

VIRECHANAKALPA - AGNI PURANA

Indications ReferenceDrugs Accompaniment

Various diseases Gud 223/41

295/33

263/26

Kapha-Vata

Hridroga

Triphala

Triphala Trikatu, Ksara

Narayaniya Tantra on Virechana

Narayaniya tantra gives a detailed account of treatment for cases of poisoning.The yogas might be studied with classical treatises like Caraka and Susruta. Fromthe nature of the work, one can conclude the yogas as of traditional one and thepractice of Virechana karma is in vogue in cases of poisoning.

Samhitas

Caraka in the Chapter on Vlsacikitsa mentions only a few recipes for Virechana-karma to counteract cases of poisoning However, the number of recipes given by

40 Bulletin Ind. Inst. Hist, Med. Vol. VI

Susruta in the same centext are comparatively more. The Kalpa-sthana of Carakabrings out the importance of Virechane karma by presenting them through differentmedia and various mixtures. The Virecana karma cikitsa can be put to as manyuses as the physician desires. Caraka described six hundred preparations and yetstated that these are only fraction of the possible number of such preparations.According to one's own intelligence, numerous of them can be made. Indian medicinerecommends its use in cases of Rheumatism. Vatarakt a is also treated by Virechana.Specially in case of poisons the use of purgative drugs is preceded by the use ofemetic drugs and this practice could be studied with advantage in comparison withthe similar accounts in the Kausika Sutra under the heading Sarvavisha bhaishajyam,Epilepsy could be cured by the use of gbee or oil from the stand point of purgation(Jolly). The use of ghee is described as the best in the treatment aimed at the removalof pitta-vitiation. Wounds caused by bite of mad animal are treated by gbee afterblood letting. Purgatlve preparations made of ghee help to remove the discordance ofdoshas. The treatment is of the nature of a detoxication. The doshas vitiated in excessare radically eliminated and balance restored. Number of medicines used forpurgative action can be unlimited. Of late, many synthetic purgative agents also arein the market.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are due to Yd. K. N. Mehta, Dean, R. A. Podar Madical College,M. A. Podar Hospital and Project Officer, Panchakarma Research Scheme (CCRIMH)for his encouragement from time to time. Thanks are also due to Director, CentralCouncil for Research in Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, New Delhi, for givingan opportunity to undertake scientific study and research in Panchakarma ResearchScheme at R. R. A. Podar Ayurvedic Research Institute, WorIi, Bombay-400018.

SUMMARY

The article aims at enumeration of the earliest references on this subject of Vire-chanakarma, one of the methods of treatment under the category of panchakarmacikista, The virechana ka/pas described in Puranas as well as list of conditions amen-IIh'~for this kind of therapy are also recorded.

Vlrechana In Indian Literature-s-Anand & Gurjar 41

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