The Department of Sanskrit Studies, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has organized “Dhanwantary Jayanthi” by Prof. S. Manikya Sharma, Retd. Principal, Dr. BRKR Govt. Ayurveda College, at Humanities lecture Hall on 1st November, 2013.
Prof. Amitabha Das Gupta, Dean, School of Humanities welcomed the gathering and guests. He said that Physiology and Philology are the two important disciplines in which lot of research is being done. While quoting Sri Aurobindo’s ‘Life Divine’, he said that all problems are due to lack of harmony and leading a harmonious life keeps one in good health.
Dr. J.S.R.A. Prasad, Dept. of Sanskrit Studies introduced the theme of Dhanwantary Jayanthi and the speakers. Dhanwantari is the god of health as per Indian medical system of ‘Ayurveda’. As per puranas, during the churning of milky ocean by the deities and demons, Dhanwantary manifested with a pot of ambrosia, conch, disk and a leach. He has been considered the icon of Indian Medical heritage. Ayurveda does not advocate a certain deity or religion. Ayurveda is simply a rational indigenous medical science. When compared to WHO’s definition of health, the ‘spiritual health’ is a bonus in Ayurveda. Ayurveda believes in rebirth. As there is no ‘World Indigenous Health Day’, the Dhanwantary Jayanthi is an occasion during which contemporary health problems are contemplated.
Prof. Geeta K. Vemuganti, Dean, School of Medical Sciences, UoH inaugurated the event and delivered the inaugural address. Prof. Geeta, opined that Medicine, Music and Love have no religion. There should be a way to integrate both Ayurveda and modern medicine. No discipline can grow without the help from each other. Interdisciplinary studies mean interdependence, and coining of the word ‘Complimentary and Alternative Medicine’ including Ayurveda under this system is not correct, she said. She has emphasized on the three types of Rnam (debt) that has to be paid back to the society by sharing and publishing the research results. Prof. Geeta has suggested some collaborative project proposal between the School of Medical Sciences and Dept. of Sanskrit Studies.
Prof. S. Manikya Sharma, Retd. Principal, Dr. BRKR Govt. Ayurveda College was the Chief Guest of the event. Prof. Sharma narrated the incarnations of Dhanwantary from purana and samhita texts. Essentially, he explained the three crucial branches of Ayurveda, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Paediatrics. Prof. Sharma has very carefully described the basic principles of Ayurveda such as ‘humors, tissues and waster products.’ As per Ayurvedic principles, no one in the world can be called healthy. But only the equilibrium of all the above constitutes good health. In spite of being preventive, the kaala (time) is the prime factor for getting diseased. Prof. Sharma has referred to three types of treatment and emphasized on the two types of alleviating therapy and purification therapy while referring to popular maxims in Ayurveda.
Dr. Amba Kulkarni, Head, Dept. of Sanskrit Studies proposed the vote of thanks and expressed the department’s willingness to work collaboratively with the School of Medical Sciences.
By Dr. JSRA Prasad, Assistant Professor, Department of Sanskrit, UoH