E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Ayurveda

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2023 Volume 8 Number 10 October
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

A comprehensive study on Mrita Sharir Samshodhana in Ancient Ayurveda and Modern Science

Nath R1*, Kumar K2, Tiwari N3
DOI:10.21760/jaims.8.10.29

1* Rahul Nath, Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Rachana Sharira, Govt Ayurvedic College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

2 Kuldeep Kumar, Lecturer, Department of Rachana Sharira, Govt Ayurvedic College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

3 Namrata Tiwari, Reader, Department of Rachana Sharira, Govt Ayurvedic College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

According to Ayurveda, Maharshi Sushruta invented surgery. First Indian surgeon was Maharshi Sushruta. According to Sushruta, learning how to dissect a dead body is fundamental to become a good doctor and surgeon. Sushruta Samhita, provides a brief explanation of dissection and preservation. For preservation, understanding of acceptable preservation techniques is necessary. A dead body is more likely to be destroyed when the incorrect preservation method is used to preserve it. Acharya Charaka says that understanding Shukshama and Sthula Sharir in its whole is necessary for understanding the Sharir Rachana. It is being done to compile all available data on Ayurvedic science, including how the body is collected, where it will be kept, and how it will be conserved. The modern preservation technique differs from the Ayurveda approach.

Keywords: Mrita Samshodhana, Preservation, Dissection, Ayurveda

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Rahul Nath, Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Rachana Sharira, Govt Ayurvedic College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Email: 		Nath R, Kumar K, Tiwari N, A comprehensive study on Mrita Sharir Samshodhana in Ancient Ayurveda and Modern Science. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(10):186-189.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2827

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-08-15 2023-08-21 2023-08-26 2023-08-31 2023-09-21
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None declared Nil Yes 18.56%

© 2023by Nath R, Kumar K, Tiwari Nand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Rahul Nath et al. Mrita Sharir Samshodhana in Ancient Ayurveda and Modern Science

Introduction

The two greatest Samhita in Ayurveda are Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. In Ayurveda, Maharshi Sushruta was India's first physician. Maharshi Sushruta is well knowledgeable about Sharir Rachna, such as by a number of pieces of evidence. Maharshi Sushruta goes into considerable depth about the Ayurvedic preservation and dissection method. The Sushruta Samhita addressed surgical issues like the use of various tools and surgical techniques since he felt that students going to be surgeons should have a full understanding of the human body's structure, there is solid evidence that knowledge of human anatomy was obtained through both surface inspection and dissection. When you consider the limitations that made it impossible for people in ancient India to gain knowledge of anatomy the improvement of surgery is incredible.[1] The dissector did not actually need to touch the warps for Maharshi Sushruta to pass through the message and illustrate his incredible understanding of human anatomy by removing skin and flesh with a brush-like broom.[2]

Aim

To study methods of dead body preservation and dissection in ancient and modern literature.

Objectives

1. To study details of Mrita Samshodhana method.
2. To study comprehensive on Mrita Samshodhana methods from Ayurvedic and modern text books

Materials and Methods

1. All the literatures were collected from Ayurveda and modern texts.
2. Related websites.

Review of Ayurvedic Literature

In the Pre-Vedic period, the preservation of the dead body can be found in Ramayan, After the death of Dasharatha Maharaja the body was kept in Tail Droni.[3]

In the Buddhist period, during this time, Sharp objects were not permitted due to Buddhist Ahimsa Siddhanta, small changed at the time. The Pyramids of Egypt are the preservative technique

of death body over many years. In this, the dead bodies of king were kept safe.[4] Surgery require more knowledge of the whole body and body structure. This knowledge is obtained through cadaveric dissection. Maharshi Sushruta has described the entire body structure and method of dissection in Sharir Sthana.[5] The procedure of Mrita Sharir Samshodhana Vidhi or Embalming has been introduced in our ancient and modern literatures for this purpose.

Mrita Samshodhana Vidhi (Method of Cadaver Preservation and Dissection)[6]

The method of Mrita Samshodhana has described by Maharshi Sushruta in Ayurveda, he had explained the following steps

1. Identification criteria
Samastha Gatram - all body internal and external body structure are present.
Avishoupahitam - Poisoning should never be the causes of death.
Adhirga Vyadhi Piditam - Not suffering from a chronic illness.
Avarsa Shatikam - Must not be more than 100 years of age or must be employed.

2. Cleaning the body
Nisrushtaantra Pureesha - Expelling faeces from a dead body.

3. Preservation and Dissection
According to Maharshi Sushruta after the dead body has been selected and cleaned.
It is covered in either Munja grass, Valkala (tree bark), Kusha grass, Shana (cannabis plants) etc. and finally tied tightly together and placed inside a frame that should be generated to decompose in a dark place and inside a slow flowing river for about seven days. The dead body has become properly decompose; it should be wrapping and taken out removed. Slowly rubbing the dead body with Brush. Brush is made from Usheer (Grass), Baala (hairs), Venu (bamboo), Valkala (inner bark of trees), Kusha (Trina Panchmoola), or similar material and external (Bahya) and Internal (Abhyantar) part of body such as the skin, Muscles etc. should be completely observed with the eyes (Pratyaksha).[7] According to Maharshi Sushruta, it is not possible to see with eye the very minute soul in the body. He can be seen with Gyan Chakshu (Knowledge).[8] The Pratyksha Pramana is used for studying the macroscopic components of the human body, such


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as the skin, tissue, organs, bones, blood vessels and nerves which may be seen by dissection. We only learn the practical abnormal aspect of Sharira in Shalya tantra, So in sequence to be a successful surgeon one should practice and gain practical knowledge by Pratyaksha Pramana to have surely(9) .

Modern Method of Cadaver Preservation[10]

It is a temporary method of preservation of cadaver by preventing decomposition and restore a natural appearance for viewing a body after death.

Purpose

1.  Preservation of cadaver.
2.  Inhibition of growth of fungi, bacteria, maggots etc.
3.  It gives the cadaver an ante mortem appearance which not only generates interest for dissection but also helps to identify the structures, its course, relation and variations which are encountered during the dissection.

Embalming chemicals

Embalming fluid contains a mixture of formaldehyde, methanol and other solvents. i. Formaldehyde - 5 to 29% ii. Methanol - 9 to 56%, Formalin - 4 litres, Water - 4 litres, Methyl alcohol - 1 litre, Glycerine - 500 ml, Cetrimide - 500ml, Eosin - 25 ml, Eucalyptus oil - 25 ml.

Method of injection

Arterial embalming by gravitation method is simplest, safest method. In this method gravity bottle is placed at 3 to 4 feet above the height of embalming table which provides a pressure of 0.6 kg/sq.m.

Discussion

In Ayurveda various part of body has been described in Rachana Sharira. In modern time various body parts and structure of body are studies under the subject of anatomy. The word Mrita Samshodhana has been used for dead body preservation and dissection in Ayurveda and the word embalming is used in modern science. Dead body selection criteria in Ayurveda state that Samasth Gatram means all organs and structures of body should be present so that complete knowledge can be obtained during dissection. Organ and

structures of body are damaged due to poison; therefore a dead body not be taken with poison. Body are shrinks with increasing age, hence it should be taken for bodies less than 100 years. Dead bodies were kept in dark place because in ancient times, dead body preservation was not considered a good practice. In Mrita Samshodhana method described by Maharshi Sushruta, the dead body is preserved in a natural way with Munja, Valkal, Brusha, etc. because they are act as anti-infective. In modern science, dead body is preserved by using chemical components such as formaldehyde etc. Baala (hair), Kurch etc. are used for dissection of cadaver and blade, scalpel, many instrument are used for dissection in modern methods. According to Maharshi Sushruta, after seven days of preservation with the support of Kusha, Khasha, and bark, dissection of the dead body is possible but according to modern, chemical components are inject in dead body. By keeping the dead body in flowing water for 7 days, it becomes properly swelling so that a good knowledge of the structure can be obtained at the times of dissection.

To perform a good surgery, it is necessary to know about the whole body parts so that important organ, structure etc can be saved during surgery. Hence it is necessary to practice it in the cadaver before performing the surgery.

Conclusion

The many preservation techniques are discussed in both Ayurveda and contemporary science. Ayurveda uses an easy, all-natural preservation technique. In contrast to current preservation methods, which involve various chemical agents, Ayurveda methods do not use any chemicals at all. The effects of these chemicals on dead bodies might be risky and may damage the deceased body. In light of this assessment, we may conclude that the Ayurvedic technique of preservation is secure and natural, and that it can be used to preserve a body.

References

1. Ghanekar BG. Sushruta Samhita Sharir sthan, Sanskrit text with Ayurvedarahasyadipika Hindi commentary. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; 2019 Jan. (Su.Sha.5/63).

2. Ghanekar BG. Sushruta Samhita Sharir sthan, Sanskrit text with Ayurvedarahasyadipika


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Hindi commentary. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; 2019 Jan. (Su.Sha.5/58).

3. Valmiki. Ayodhyakhanda, Ramayana. The Illustrated History of Word Science. Cambridge University; 1998. p. 30, 115.

4. Sharma AT. Ayurvedic Sharir Rachana Vigyan. Rohtak: Nath Pustaka Bandar; Chapter 1, Page no-16.

5. Ghanekar BG. Sushruta Samhita Sharir sthan, Sanskrit text with Ayurvedarahasyadipika Hindi commentary. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; 2019 Jan. (Sampurn Sharira Sthan).

6. Ghanekar BG. Sushruta Samhita Sharir sthan, Sanskrit text with Ayurvedarahasyadipika Hindi commentary. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; 2019 Jan. (Su.Sha.5/61).

7. Ghanekar BG. Sushruta Samhita Sharir sthan, Sanskrit text with Ayurvedarahasyadipika Hindi commentary. New Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; 2019 Jan. (Su.Sha.5/60).

8. Ambikadutta S. Ayurved Tatva Sandipika Hindi vyakhya. Vaigyanikavimarsh of Sushruta Samhita, Purvardha. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan; 2012. (Su.Sha. 5/62).

9. Ambikadutta S. Ayurved Tatva Sandipika Hindi vyakhya. Vaigyanikavimarsh of Sushruta Samhita, Purvardha. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan; 2012. (Su.Sha.5/6).

10. Shimpi P, Choudhary D. Comprehensive Anatomy for Students of Ayurved. Nagpur: Shree Dhanwantri Book Publishers; 2018 Sept 2nd Revised Edition.


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