Doota adhyaya of Bhela indriya sthana - An explorative study

Abstract

‘Maharshi Bhela’ belongs to samhita period (100 BC - 400 BC) and he has composed an Ayurvedic treatise known as ‘Bhela samhita’. Bhela samhita is divided in to 8 sections and 120 chapters. Indriya sthana is one among the 8 sections of ‘Bhela samhita’ and it comprised of 12 chapters. Like ‘Indriya sthanas’ of other ancient Ayurvedic texts, ‘Bhela indriya sthana’ also deals with arishta lakshanas (fatal signs and symptoms) and other prognostic aspects. ‘Doota adhyaya’ is the 8th chapter of ‘Bhela indriya sthana’ which comprises of 16 verses dealing with estimation of prognosis based on the characteristic features of caregiver (doota). Estimating prognosis based on the phenotypic characteristics of caregiver is the unique contribution of Ayurveda and ‘Maharshi Bhela’ has allotted a separate chapter for this in ‘Indriya sthana’ (doota adhyaya). The contents of ‘doota adhyaya’ are unique and needs further in-depth exploration. Previous works conducted on ‘Charaka indriya sthana’ and ‘Bhela indriya sthana’ have explored various neglected concepts having prognostic importance. Studies on ‘Doota adhyaya’ of ‘Bhela indriya sthana’ have been lacking and the present study is aimed to explore the contents of this chapter in terms of their prognostic significance. Thousands of years ago, ‘Maharshi Bhela’ has identified and documented concepts like caregiver burden & distress, factors determining the impact of caregiving on caregivers, desirable or positive personality characteristics of a caregiver and their influence on prognosis and role and impact of geographical, cultural, economic, social and personality characteristics of a caregiver on caregiving and prognosis of a disease condition of the patient or care recipient. Concepts of ‘Jyotishya shastra’ (astrology) and ‘Nimitta’ or ‘Shakuna shastra (astrology of omens)’ were also incorporated in assessing the prognosis. Further works are required to establish the facts mentioned in this chapter.