Changes

==Structure==

==Structure==

In terms of its structure, the [[Charak Samhita]] consists of 120 chapters broken into eight sections, or ''Sthana''. The text is written partly in the form of verses, or ''shloka'', and partly in prose. In the last chapter of the last section of the [[Charak Samhita]] ([[Siddhi Sthana]], 12/52), it has been indicated that there are 12000 verses in the text. However, the extant versions of the treatise seem to have 8419 verses and 1111 prose paragraphs. Thus, some 2000 verses seem to have been lost in the course of its existence. The treatise’s first section – [[Sutra Sthana]] – lays the foundational principles of Ayurveda in 30 chapters.  

In terms of its structure, the ''Samhita'' consists of 120 chapters broken into eight sections, or ''Sthana''. The text is written partly in the form of verses, or ''shloka'', and partly in prose. In the last chapter of the [[Siddhi Sthana]] (12/52), it is mentioned that there are 12000 verses in the text. However, the treatise has only 8419 verses and 1111 prose paragraphs. Thus, some 2000 verses seem to have been lost in the course of its existence.  

Concepts such as the ''mahabhuta'' (fundamental elements that make the human being as well as the universe around him, viz. earth, fire, air, ether, and water), ''doshas'' (body humors), ''dhatus'' (tissues), and other critical concepts have been laid here. The subsequent sections build upon the concepts laid in this section to explain human physiology, etiology of diseases, clinical sciences, etc. The final section is titled [[Siddhi]], underscoring the key objective of the book – to help the reader attain emancipation through health.

==Fundamental concepts==

Quite like any body of scientific knowledge, the [[Charak Samhita]] used to be a living document before it got into a “dark age” of relative stagnation. The world has changed since the originally redacted edition of the [[Charak Samhita]] came about. A team of Ayurvedic scholars, biomedical researchers, modern medicine physicians, content managers, business consultants, and language editors have been working on a new edition of the [[Charak Samhita]]. True to its tradition of a dialog between a teacher and a student, it is aimed to be a “living and interactive” text, planned and redacted online to allow for a broader outreach and to serve as an online source of reference on Ayurveda.

Concepts such as the ''mahabhuta'' (fundamental elements that make the human being as well as the universe around him, viz. earth, fire, air, ether, and water), ''doshas'' (body humors), ''dhatus'' (tissues), and other critical concepts have been included. The principles and applications to explain human physiology, etiology of diseases, clinical sciences, etc. are emphasized. The final section is titled [[Siddhi]], underscoring the key objectives of the book – to help the reader attain emancipation through health.  

The new [[Charak Samhita]] has the same sequence of sections (and their chapters) as the original text (though a planned Uttar Tantra section would be added subsequently), with the same logical progression starting with the [[Sutra Sthana]], covering the basic but generic principles of Ayurveda, right up to [[Siddhi Sthana]], covering the specifics of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification).  

==Importance of new edition==

 

Quite like any body of scientific knowledge, the [[Charak Samhita]] used to be a living document before it got into a “dark age” of relative stagnation. The world has changed since the originally redacted edition. A team of Ayurvedic scholars, biomedical researchers, modern medicine physicians, content managers, business consultants, and language editors have been working on a new edition. True to its tradition of a dialog between a teacher and a student, it is aimed to be a “living and interactive” text, planned and redacted online to allow for a broader outreach and to serve as an online source of reference on Ayurveda.

 

The new edition has the same sequence of sections (and their chapters) as the original text, with the same logical progression starting with the [[Sutra Sthana]], covering the basic but generic principles of Ayurveda, right up to [[Siddhi Sthana]], covering the specifics of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification). Uttar Tantra section would be added subsequently.

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===Sections===

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* [[Sutra Sthana]] (30 chapters) covers basic principles of Ayurveda with seven groups of tetrads (logical groupings of four chapters, or ''Chatushka'') including medicaments (''Bheshaja Chatushka''), preventive and promotive medicine (''Swasthya Chatushka''), directions of utilizing Ayurveda principles (''Nirdesha Chatushka''), preparations useful for treatment (''Kalpana Chatushka''), Disease categories and classification of diseases (''Roga Chatushka''), Management principles of disease (''Yojana Chatushka'') and Dietary principles (''Annapana Chatushka''). The last two chapters are called ''Sangraha Adhyaya'' including important aspects of ''Prana'' (vital energy) and brief about the topics discussed in the entire Samhita.  

*''[[Sutra Sthana]]'' (30 chapters) covers basic principles of Ayurveda with seven groups of tetrads (logical groupings of four chapters, or ''Chatushka'') including medicaments (''Bheshaja Chatushka''), preventive and promotive medicine (''Swasthya Chatushka''), directions of utilizing Ayurveda principles (''Nirdesha Chatushka''), preparations useful for treatment (''Kalpana Chatushka''), Disease categories and classification of diseases (''Roga Chatushka''), Management principles of disease (''Yojana Chatushka'') and dietary principles (''Annapana Chatushka''). The last two chapters are called ''Sangraha Adhyaya'' including important aspects of ''Prana'' (vital energy) and summary of topics discussed in the entire Samhita.  

* [[Nidana Sthana]] (8 chapters) discusses the important clinical diagnostic tools for knowledge of disease as well as etiopathogenesis of eight major diseases.

* [[Nidana Sthana]] (8 chapters) discusses the etiopathogenesis and important clinical diagnostic tools for eight major diseases.

* [[Vimana Sthana]] (8 chapters) contains specific information about diet, dietary rules, epidemic diseases found in society, teaching and learning methods, various types of examinations and medical studies.

* [[Vimana Sthana]] (8 chapters) contains specific information about diet, dietary rules, epidemics, teaching and learning methods, various types of examinations.

* [[Sharira Sthana]] (8 chapters) describes details about the composition of the human body, its origin, the importance of body, mind and soul co-ordination, embryology and anatomical aspects of a human body.

* [[Sharira Sthana]] (8 chapters) describes details about the composition of the human body, its origin, the importance of body, mind and soul co-ordination, embryology and anatomical aspects of a human body.

* [[Kalpa Sthana]] (12 chapters) contains usage and preparation of medicine.

* [[Kalpa Sthana]] (12 chapters) contains usage and preparation of medicine.

* [[Siddhi Sthana]] (12 chapters) describes principles of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification) with the useful preparations for these procedures.

* [[Siddhi Sthana]] (12 chapters) describes principles of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification) and preparations useful for these procedures.

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In the last century, modern medicine or allopathy has made significant strides in the area of disease management. However, in spite of the significant breakthroughs that it has witnessed, modern medicine continues to be primarily an offense strategy for managing ailments. The incidence of occurrence of disease continues to rise and healthcare costs are rising exponentially. It has become crucial to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Ayurveda primarily utilizes the defense strategy in health management as detailed and described in the treatise, the [[Charak Samhita]]. Through the subsequent Uttar Tantra section, the new edition of the text will provide the clinician guidelines for using offense and defense strategies to win the war against human suffering from illness and create better health.   

In the last century, modern medicine or allopathy has made significant strides in the area of disease management. Despite significant breakthroughs that it has witnessed, the incidence of disease continues to rise and healthcare costs are rising exponentially. It has become crucial to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Ayurveda primarily utilizes the defense strategy in health management as described in the treatise. Through the subsequent Uttar Tantra section, the new edition of the text will provide the clinician guidelines for using offense and defense strategies to win the war against human suffering from illness and create better health.   

   

   

Thus, the new edition of the [[Charak Samhita]] is a work in progress. It has four sections:

Thus, the new edition of the [[Charak Samhita]] is a work in progress. It has four sections:

1. Sanskrit ''shlokas'' (verses) and transliteration into English

1. Sanskrit ''shlokas''(verses) and transliteration into English

2. Translation from Sanskrit to English

2. Translation from Sanskrit to English

3. Fundamental guiding principles, known as ''Tattva'', are extracted from the treatise and recorded as inferences in ''Tattva Vimarsha''.

3. Fundamental guiding principles, known as ''Tattva'', are extracted from the treatise and recorded as inferences in ''Tattva Vimarsha''.

   

   

4. Medical and surgical treatments and procedures change with advancements in science. Old treatments and procedures still effective are being retained and new ones are being added and commented in the ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' section. This section requires the help of specialists in various areas of health science. Currently ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' in most of the sections is either incomplete or absent and requires the help of volunteer scholars to complete.

4. Medical and surgical treatments and procedures change with advancements in science. Old treatments and procedures still effective are being retained and new ones are being added and included in the ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' section. This section requires the help of specialists in various areas of health science. Currently ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' in most of the sections is either incomplete or absent and requires the help of volunteer scholars to complete.

Future additional resources of the new edition of [[Charak Samhita]] will include:

Future additional resources of the new edition will include:

5. Video recordings of selected discussions between clinicians on the classic texts and their application in the modern world  

5. Video recordings of selected discussions between clinicians on the classic texts and their application in the modern world  

7. Illustrations will be added wherever necessary.

7. Illustrations will be added wherever necessary.

8. A recompiled Uttar Tantra section.  The Uttar Tantra is thought to have existed and believed to have been destroyed or lost from the older editions of the [[Charak Samhita]]. The newly introduced disease and their management, as well as modern terminologies for diseases enlisted in the [[Charak Samhita]], will be included. This section will be recompiled to contain modern treatment of diseases in which the offense/defense or Allopathy/Ayurveda strategy for better treatment of disease is utilized.  

8. A recompiled Uttar Tantra section will include the newly found diseases and their management, as well as modern terminologies for diseases enlisted and explanation of various Ayurvedic concepts.

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Board of Editors, FHED (India) Trust

Board of Editors, FHED (India) Trust