Synopsis on Caraka Samhita

About the Book Carak Samhita, one of the treasure houses of information in Ayurveda, has always been a great support in understanding the science for the students, practitioners of Ayurveda. Though lots of information is available, the sheer enormousness of the book, poses a great challenge to those who study it. Thus this book, is a small endeavour, in the direction of presenting the vast information in a simplified and reader-friendly manner. This book I am sure will help the reader to understand the gist of the valuable samhita. The book will also help the students of graduate and post-graduate examinations to revise, before appearing for exams. This will also be an able guide to those preparing for entrance exams for post-graduation at various state arc ational universities.

Dr. Rajneesh V. Giri was born in Bangalore, Karnataka in the year 1973. He completed his primary education in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bangalore. He completed his B.A.M.S. at Government Ayurveda Medical College, Bangalore in 1997, post-graduation- M.S. (Shalya) from the same institute in 2000 and Doctor of philosopy - Ph.D. (Shalya) from Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in the year 2003. Presently he is working as Asst. Professor; Department of Shalyatantra, Sushrutha Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore and consultant to the Ano-Rectal clinic run by Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore. He is also engaged in the manufacture of Guggulu based Kshara sutra for the use of various institutions. He has been actively involved in various research projects, undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and teaching Ayurveda to foreign students. He is also the author of "Synopsis of Susruta Sarnhita" published by Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi.

Dr. Smitha Rajneesh was born in Karkala, Udupi Dist. Karnataka, in the year 1978. She completed her B.A.M.S. at Shree Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Udupi in the year 2001. Since then has been actively involved in various Ayurvedic Hospital, Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre, Mysore; Herbal Nutrients Pvt. Ltd. Mysore. She has a rich working experience in deaddiction of alcoholics and drug-abusers and rehabilitation of psychologically-ill patients.

Ayurveda aptly called the "Science of Life" had been catering to the health demands of the people in the past, is catering to this need presently and will cater to the needs of the mankind in the future also. Today's world is in many ways looking towards Ayurveda to provide probable solutions to many new disease which are posing a challenge which have risen due to haywire dietetic and lifestyle practices. For the students and practitioners of Ayurveda, various texts written centuries ago, have been perennial sources of knowledge. Among these classics, 3 important classics, viz Caraka Samhita, Sugruta Samhita and Astanga Sangraha, known as brihatrayi, are the most important oceans of information. Of these Caraka Samhita provides an inexhaustible infcrmation regarding all the 8 branches of Ayurveda (Astanga of Ayurveda). Greater stress is laid on the branch of Kayacikitsa, which pertains with the understanding and management of diseases which afflict our body. The enormous, authentic information put in coded form (in the form of gloka) in Sanskrit, many times creates hurdles in the path of present day Ayurvedic students, who have done most of their basic schooling without adequate teaching of sanskrit. Moreover the medium of instruction and language of writing being English, demands texts in English for the betterment of student fraternity.

This book therefore has been written in simple english and presented in the form of tables and points in an elegant manner, to make the reading and understanding Caraka Samhita a pleasurable experience. I would like to thank the co-author of this book, Dr. Smitha, who is also my life-partner, who has put in a lot of hard work in simplifying and presenting the enormous information in a very student-friendly pattern. Dr. Mamata Bhagwath, MD (Kaya), Lecturer, SKAMC, Bangalore, has been a great source of knowledge and has provided 12Iuable inputs from time to time. I am thankful to her for her support provided in making this book valuable to students. I am thankful to my parents, parents-in-law, brothers, sisters-in-law, friends and teachers who have always stood by me and supported me. The greatest heartfelt thanks, is to Mr. Atul Kumar of M/s. Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, who has been more than a friend to me and who is the publisher of this work. "To err is human and to forgive is divine" Any shortcomings in this book have to be forgiven by the readers. Opinions and criticism are always welcome.

**Contents and Sample Pages**