The Shalakya Tantra: Diseases of Eye, Head and E.N.T. (An Old and Rare Book)

Ayurveda is the science of life, it is the God gifted very ancient and the first medical science which was memorised and composed by the originator Brahma (Swayambhoo) and considered it as the branch of Atharvana veda (Upaveda to atharvana veda and treated it as panchama veda). It is explained as 3 principled (3 sutra Hethu - Linga-Aushada) and 8 branched medical science (Astanga Ayurveda)

Ayurveda is the first and the Oldest medical science, existing since or before the human creation. It is aimed to1) Protect the health by giving the knowledge of preventive health principles,2) Protect or cure the dis- eases by explaining the differrent types of treatment-procedures and prin- ciples (Maintanence of health and correction of ill health Swasthasya swastha rakshanam-aaturasya vikara prashamanam)

The Eight branches of Ayurveda are

1. Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine)

2. Balaroga Chikitsa (Paediatrics)

3. Graha roga Chikitsa (Demonology)

4. Urdwanga roga Chikitsa (E.N.T., Ophthalmology)

5. Shalya Chikitsa (Surgery)

6. Visha Chikitsa (Toxicology)

7. Rasayana Chikitsa (Rejuvenative therapy)

8. Vajee karana Chikitsa (Aphrodisiacs)

The shalakya tantra gives the detailed discription of the diseases of the following parts 1) Ear diseases 2) Nose diseases 3) Throat dis- eases (Lips - Teeth, Gums Tongue Palate Throat proper etc) 4) Eye dis- eases and 5) Shiro rogas. All these are sensory organs seated in the shiras so only this branch of the medicine is given prime importance among the 8 branches of Ayurveda Again in this branch ophthalmology (Netra roga vigyana ) is having utmost importance because eye is the organ for visual sensation, if vision is lost merely every thing is lost- A blind man, though rich cannot enjoy the world, so only it is explained that " Sarvendrianam Nayanam Pradhanam’.

The Shalakya Tantra is an important Branch of Ayurveda dealing with the diseases of E. N. T. and eye written by Dr. D. Lakshmana Chary. B. A . M. S; Ph. D Shalakya in English language is based on the syllabus contents of B. A. M. S. degree course. This book is helpful not only to the students of Ayurveda but also to the teachers of Shalakya Tantra.

The work of Dr. chary is really appreciable. He has taken great pains to compile and collect the various scholarly commentaries and tried to compare and contrass them to elucidate the real interpretation for better understanding of the subject. His work is the need of the hour particularly for the students of south where the books in English Languages are very few. This work fulfills the long felt need of the students.

I welcome this publication on "Shalakyatantra" subject and congratulate the young author for this onerous task which he completed energetically and patiently. I wish him all success and hope that he will continue to write many more books on various subjects in future with this experience, I feel honoured to write this foreword for the book brought out by Dr. Chary who was my student. I wish him success in all his future endeavour.

It is my great pleasure to undertake the work of writing the book Shaalakya Tantra in two volumes. It is by the grace of god Dhanvanthari alone that my book has been uninterruptedly completed.

Since there has been no book of its kind in English furnishing the fullest information about Shalskyatantra, I have made a bold attempt to venture on it keeping in view the C. C. I. M. syllabus of final B. A. M. S. Students. The success of my work fully depends upon its utility to many a student.

I express my sincere gratitude to H. H. Sri Sri Sri shivakumar Swamiji the president of Ayurvedic Medical College, Bidar for providing me the best opportunity to serve in his esteemed Medical Institute. It is he who has been the source of my inspiration to bring out this book.

I offer my heartfelt thanks to the Principal, Dr. V. S. Patil for giving me the most Valuable suggestion from time to time. It is Kind of him to write the foreword to my book.

I whole heartedly thank here S. M. Sathye who is giving me the very good guidance for my Ph D work.

I also wish ro record my unfalling thankfulness to the Professors, the Readers, the Lecturers of Ayurveda Medical College for their best encouragement in my endeavour.

I Sincerely acknowledge and place on record the direct and indirect help and guidance of the authors of modern text book on ophthalmology and E.N.T whose views presentations and illustrations are very much helpful to me in bringing out the book.

Last but not the Least I thank Printers of the book and all others who helped me in completing the book as desired.