Siddhamantra of Vaidyacharya Keshava (Commentary Based on Prakasha Sanskrit Commentary of Vopadeva)

The book Siddhamantra is a text written by Keshava in around is 13th century A.D. as mentioned in various Dravyaguna texts and also by Prof. P.V. Sharma in the Sanskrit version of the text. This book is itself an index of various medicinally active or food substances that were in vogue during the author's time. Majority of them are being used in various parts of the country and the world even today. The book has a unique method of classification that will help the physician as a ready reference and guide of the medicines to the physician. For making it more relevant in today's world and easy understanding, the best possible identification of the individual substances have been done. Thus it is a modest tryout by the translator to have a well accepted list of substances which will be barred from any regional differences such that the main vision of the author is fulfilled.

The work is translated by Prof. Mahesh T.S. who is presently, Professor in the Department of Dravyaguna at Jeevan Jyothi Ayurveda Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He is the son of Late Mr. T.S. Bhat and Mrs. T. Shankari S. Bhat who are from a village known as Kepu near a small town Vittal of Bantwal taluk, Karnataka state. He got his under graduation For SDM College of Ayurveda, Hassan, Postgaduation in Dravyaguna at ALN Rao Memorial Ayurveda Medical College, Koppa, Chikmagalur District, Karnataka and completed it on 2004 under the guide ship of Prof. V.N. Joshi, Professor, ALN Rao Memorial Ayurveda Medical College, Koppa and Ph.D. in Dravyaguna from NIA, Jaipur. He also got his MBA (marketing) from Kuvempu University, Shimoga.

It gives me an immense pleasure to say something about this unique venture undertaken by Dr. T.S: Mahesh, my student who understood the value of Guru and shishyasam-bandha or relationship. In my opinion and strong belief that the relationship of its best origin resulted through in to this unique Guru & Shishyasambandha continued as the wisdom, clarified through in our ancient treatises or Samhitas from Vedic wisdom and chanting as 'Sahanaavavatu Sahanoubhunakthu' (let we together as Guru and Shishya, sit together to clarify the issues of truth to establish and share the values of Sukha and by relieving the Dukha, equally to mutual growth and prosperity to relieve the suffering resulted from fear(Bhaya- Trasa-Shoka-Roga) and complexity etc.)

From the above relationship if I 'measure the wisdom through the works of great scholar like Vaidya Acharya Keshava, he who enlightened from Bhaskara or Aditya the prime Guru of entire world of livingness. And his ancestral body derived from Yadavakula in to Mahadeva is unique alignment of Shiva and keshavasambandha or Hari and Hara he who relieves suffering from pain and miseries from this mundane world.

In to the relationship of his work, through the division of (09), the first group as Nava karanadravya, symbolically starts the creation of Saptadhatu (07) and in to (11) or Ekaadashalndriyani followed in to second and third group among eight groups or branches of wisdom as Astanga Ayurveda.

The fourth being as Tridosha group (03) to testify this from in Caturvidhapareeksha (04) and sixth as Catur Bhadra (04) or safe medicine to administer in to dual group of seventh, Samanya and vishesha theory (2). Now the last and final division of eigth branch (15) or as group to narrate their relationship of Panchamahabhutas in to Rasa panchaka and obtained it as Panchendriyabudhi (5+5+5) to finish his work of wisdom if I carefully analyse and represent as symbolic division of his work finish as double figures.

With this short vision of mine, would like to throw the light of wisdom to all of my disciples or Shishya's as a loving Guru, in search of my own Guru, from lives after lives as Charaka's great sayings to remember 'Na hi Jeevithadaanaadhi Daanamanyatvishishayte'.

The present work on the translation of Siddhamantra is one of the works that is useful for all the stakeholders of Ayurveda. The girth of knowledge that is being assembled and put forward by Dr. Mahesh is reflecting the hard work and dedication in accomplishing the task. Every detail is carefully discussed to the best way possible and put forward to the readers such that the details are well understood and can be a great use to mankind. Moreover, the main purpose of the text is to help the clinicians with the drugs specified for the treatment of different conditions of the doshas in particular which is only possible with a proper identification and knowledge of the same. Thus, by adding the details like equating the sources with various respective sources have not only helped the readers but also made it a much better standardized one. The task is a very herculus one which is accomplished in a best possible manner by Or Mahesh in the present work.

Siddhamantra is a text written by Vaidyacharya Keshava to extend his clinical knowledge of understanding the different medicinal substances and applying it in the treatment of ailments. It is a text that stands apart among the various available literatures of Dravyaguna due to its uniqueness in the contents. The arrangement of various substances either single or compound into various groups based on their action on the Tridoshas itself is unique. This being a text of the 13th Century A.D., it was first printed in the year 1898 but without the commentary of his son Vopadeva: Later, it was Prof. P. V. Sharma who compiled various manuscripts, edited the contents and published the text along the commentary Prakasha of Vopadeva in the year 1977 A.D. The present work is infact based on the same printed text.

Substances form the part of any treatment that is given to relieve as suffering. But the same when not applied properly will result in the failure of treatment or even loss of life too. Thus, while providing a treatment precision is required in observing, selecting and administering of substance chosen for treatment. The text provides exactly the said precision in selecting and administering the substance required to cure diseases. But as the times have passed, resulted in improper identification, understanding and administration, hence it is necessary that one should update the information and make it acceptable to the present world.

The 'Prakasha' commentary of Vopadeva is a handy one that describes each substance in a most possible manner. Thus being the son of the author, it is quite evident that he had profound and authentic knowledge about the contents. Hence, with this view, the commentary is taken as the basis of description necessary for proper identification of botanical or zoological sources. Even the recent available literatures and internet sources is referred in ascertaining the proper source of the substance.

The present work is a humble attempt made to present before the readers with the contents being identified with proper scientific names such that it can be identified properly for administering it in the treatment of diseases by the physicians. The arrangement based on Dosha has made it a ready reference for the selection of proper substance in a given condition. The translations have also tried to explain why a particular botanical or zoological source is taken in the commentary by the translator. In certain cases where uncertaininty broods over the decisions have been marked with (?) such that any other description that is near to the same is possible to the added or replaced.

With the blessings of my teachers who taught me the eternal science of Ayurveda from SDM College of Ayurveda, Hassan; ALN Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College, Koppa, Karnataka; NIA, Jaipur; my PG guide Professor, V.N. Joshi and my Ph.D guide Professor, Mahesh Chandra Sharma of NIA, Jaipur, I have been able to complete this task in a more convincible manner. I am still of the perception that there are areas which can be bettered which 'can be done with the light of new knowledge and perception.