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Line 48: − In terms of its structure, the ''Samhita'' consists of 120 [[Adhyaya(chapters)|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]] (verse 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. + − − ==Fundamental concepts== − − 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. − − ==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 this [[Charak Samhita New Edition (Wiki) Project|new edition project]]. 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. − </div> − + Line 74:
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→Sections
==Tradition of knowledge transfer==
==Tradition of knowledge transfer==
As mentioned earlier, the [[Charak Samhita]] epitomizes one of the finest examples of classical ''Vedic'' teacher-student (''Guru-Shishya'') interactions ever recorded, either in ancient or modern times. Though literally meaning the “Compendium of Charak”, it was actually authored by Agnivesh, an ancient physician of renown. Charak redacted the text called the Agnivesha tantra, believed to have been written circa 1000 BCE by Agnivesha, a disciple of the legendary Vedic sage, Punarvasu Atreya. There are no chronological records marking the evolution of the body of knowledge that is Ayurveda, but it is speculated that Charak lived sometime in the 8th century, BCE. A scholar named Dridhabala (300 CE) worked on to restore some lost portions of the text.
As mentioned earlier, the [[Charak Samhita]] epitomizes one of the finest examples of classical ''Vedic'' teacher-student (''Guru-Shishya'') interactions ever recorded, either in ancient or modern times. Though literally meaning the “Compendium of Charak”, it was actually authored by Agnivesh, an ancient physician of renown. Charak redacted the text called the Agnivesha tantra, believed to have been written circa 1000 BCE by Agnivesha, a disciple of the legendary Vedic sage, Punarvasu Atreya. There are no chronological records marking the evolution of the body of knowledge that is Ayurveda, but it is speculated that Charak lived sometime in the 8th century, BCE. A scholar named Dridhabala (300 CE) redacted and also worked on to restore some lost portions of the text.
In the last two thousand years, the popularity of [[Charak Samhita]] spread beyond the frontiers of the Indian subcontinent, when it was translated into Arabic (8th century CE) and Persian (10th century CE). With the spread of Buddhism, it got translated into Tibetan and subsequently, Mongolian languages. Approximately 43 commentaries in Sanskrit were written through centuries – of which, Chakrapanidutta’s Ayurveda Deepika (or the Light of Ayurveda) is considered the most authoritative.
In the last two thousand years, the popularity of [[Charak Samhita]] spread beyond the frontiers of the Indian subcontinent, when it was translated into Arabic (8th century CE) and Persian (10th century CE). With the spread of Buddhism, it got translated into Tibetan and subsequently, Mongolian languages. Approximately 43 commentaries in Sanskrit were written through centuries – of which, Chakrapanidutta’s Ayurveda Deepika (or the Light of Ayurveda) is considered the most authoritative.
==Fundamental concepts==
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.
</div>
==Contents==
==Contents==
==Structure==
==Structure==
The ''Samhita'' comprises 120 [[Adhyaya(chapters)|chapters]] categorized 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]] (verse 12/52), it is mentioned that there are 12000 verses in the text. However, the present available edition of treatise has 8419 verses and 1111 prose paragraphs. Thus, some 2000 verses seem to have been lost in the course of its existence.
==Sections==
==Sections==
*''[[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.
*''[[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 (''Swastha 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 etiopathogenesis and important clinical diagnostic tools for eight major diseases.
* [[Nidana Sthana]] (8 chapters) discusses the etiopathogenesis and important clinical diagnostic tools for eight major diseases.
* [[Siddhi Sthana]] (12 chapters) describes principles of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification) and preparations useful for these procedures.
* [[Siddhi Sthana]] (12 chapters) describes principles of [[Panchakarma]] (five therapeutic procedures for body purification) and preparations useful for these procedures.
<div style="text-align:justify;">
<div style="text-align:justify;">
==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 this [[Charak Samhita New Edition (Wiki) Project|new edition project]]. 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.
==Value added features==
==Value added features==