E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Analysis of Parimana

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 2 February
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

A comparative analysis of Parimana (measurements) mentioned in Hastyayurveda with Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita

Ankita Vishnu S1*, Mishra HS2, Uma Shankar S3, Yogeshwar Kumar P4
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.2.36

1* Sase Ankita Vishnu, Post Graduate Scholar, Dept of Dravyaguna, Lalit Hari State Pg Ayurveda College and Hospital, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India.

2 Mishra HS, Lecturer, Dept of Dravyaguna, Lalit Hari State PG Ayurveda College and Hospital, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India.

3 Sharma Uma Shankar, Reader, Dept of Samhita Sanskrit and Siddhant, Lalit Hari State PG Ayurveda College and Hospital, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India.

4 Pandey Yogeshwar Kumar, Lecturer, Dept of Samhita Sanskrit and Siddhant, Lalit Hari State PG Ayurveda College and Hospital, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Hastyayurveda, authored by sage Palkapya is one of the most important ancient text available having description of wellbeing, diseases and their management in elephants. The text has been composed in the form of conversation between king of Anga Desha, Romapada and sage Palkapya. The text Hastyayurveda is the unexplored part of Ayurvedic literature. There is a need to explore the text and understand the fundamental principles, theories and traditional healing system by comparing it with the well-established available Ayurvedic literature. This endeavour will not only enrich our understanding but also serve as a crucial step in preserving ancient wisdom. It is an established and well accepted fact that Parimana (Measurements) have crucial importance in therapeutics, in both human beings as well as in animals. Like Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita, Hastyayurveda also contains description of Parimana. As we know, Charak Samhita is most widely accepted Samhita text in Ayurveda and Sharangdhar Samhita is considered as the basic text dealing with Bhaishajya Kalpana. Present paper is an effort towards a comparative analysis of different types of Parimana described in Hastyayurveda with those described in Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita.

Keywords: Charak Samhita, Hastyayurveda, Measurements, Parimana, Sharangdhar Samhita

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Sase Ankita Vishnu, Post Graduate Scholar, Dept of Dravyaguna, Lalit Hari State Pg Ayurveda College and Hospital, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Email: 		Ankita Vishnu S, Mishra HS, Uma Shankar S, Yogeshwar Kumar P, A comparative analysis of Parimana (measurements) mentioned in Hastyayurveda with Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(2):238-244.
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Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-12-14 2023-12-24 2024-01-04 2024-01-14 2024-01-23
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© 2024by Ankita Vishnu S, Mishra HS, Uma Shankar S, Yogeshwar Kumar Pand 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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Introduction

In the historical annals of India, the inception of traditional veterinary medicine traces back to the epoch of the Mahabharata i.e., 5000 B.C., as meticulously documented in the form of Nakula Samhita. Asvayurveda, Gavayurveda, Hastyayurveda,

Gaja Sastra, Asva Sastra, Matanglila, Asva Vaidyaka, Mrgpada Sastra are some of the ancient Ayurvedic texts which deals with diseases affecting different species and provide insightful treatments. There are some texts available concerned with the conservation and management of plant health also such as Vrikshayurveda. Some of these texts are not available in present and some are present in the form of manuscripts. It is our obligation to scrutinize the ancient texts in order to determine their period, unravel the underlying principles and illuminate the traditional methodologies employed in the therapeutic care of living beings.

In Agnipurana, sage Palkapya is quoted as exponent of ‘Science of Animal’.[1] The book wrote by Palkapya i.e., Hastyayurveda is one of the rare, oldest and complete Samhita text which is exclusively a treatise on elephants. In this Samhita, there is complete explanation of Sharir Rachana (anatomy), Sharir Kriya (physiology), Rog Vigyana (pathology), Shalya Chikitsa (surgery) and treatment of elephants. Signs and symptoms of disease, indications of imminent demise of elephants are also described in this text.

Time Period and Authorship[2,3]

Expounder of Hastyayurveda is sage Palakapya.

The time period of Hastyayurveda, as inferred from the mention of sage Palkapya in the Agnipurana, is suggested to span from 200 BC to 500 A.D. It has also been proclaimed that there is mention of King Rompada in Balakand of Ramayana. On the basis of this fact, sage Palkapya and text Hastyayurveda should be place to the period of King Dasharatha (Ramayana Kala) but according to historians, the time period of the text Hastyayurveda has been considered as 11th century AD.

Texts Expounded by Sage Palkapya are [2]

  • Hastyayurveda
  • Gajasastra

Hastyayurveda has been published by Anandashram press in 1894. The book is based on the edited version of four manuscripts available from different sources. Editing of the manuscripts was done by Pandit Shiva Datta Sharma, who was native and teacher at Jaipur Sanskrit School and later an eminent teacher at Sanskrit School, Lahore. Text published by Anandashram was edited using following four manuscripts -

  • One was from Sri Krisna Sharma from his own collections.
  • Two from library of Pune and Kolkata.
  • Personal collection of a Sikar based Vaidya Goswami Anandilal.[3]

Structure of Hastyayurveda[1]

Like other Samhita texts, the text Hastyayurveda is in the form of conversation between the King of Anga, Romapada and sage Palkapya.

The text consists of -

a) 4 Sthanas
b) 160 Adhyayas
c) 12000 Shlokas

Sthanas and Adhyayas mentioned in texts are -

1. Maha Roga Sthana - 18 Adhyay
2. Kshudra Roga Sthana - 72 Adhyay
3. Shalya Roga Sthana - 34 Adhyay
4. Uttar Roga Sthana - 36 Adhyay

Parimana (Measurements)

The term Parimana in the context of measurement and quantity is indeed a concept found in ancient Bharatiya texts, particularly in literature related to various sciences, including Mathematics, Astronomy and Ayurveda. It's important to note that Parimana is a Sanskrit word that has been used in ancient Bharatiya literature to denote different measurements. In Ayurveda, the term Parimana refers to the quantity or appropriate measure of a substance. It holds significance in Ayurveda in the management of diseases and well-being. Proper quantity or Parimana of various substances such as medicines, herbs and food is advised to maintain good health and to aid in the treatmentofillnesses. Ayurvedic principles have been applied to animal nutrition also. Just as humans have Dosha imbalances, animals may have their own imbalances. Accurate measurement of


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food and herbs plays a crucial role in preserving or restoring equilibrium within the bodies of animals.

Ayurveda dealing with the treatment of animals is referred to as Gavayurveda. Another specific branch of Ayurveda dealing with the conservation of health, diseases and their treatment in elephants has been referred to as Hastyayurveda. In order to have insights of different aspects of health, diseases and their management in elephants in ancient Bharat, a study was planned and is being executed on the text Hastyayurveda of Palkapya. In this context, it is evident that quantity of drugs used for the treatment of diseases in elephants will always be higher as compared to dosage used in human beings. In Hastyayurveda chapter 2 of Pratham Khand (section 1) Maharogasthanam viz. Annasamachar Adhyaya, there is detailed description of various factors pertaining to elephants including types of elephants on the basis of their height and age, aetiology of diseases, Parimana in context of defining dosage to be used for the treatment of disease in elephants.

In both Sharangdhar Samhita and Hastyayurveda, the definition of ‘Paramanu’ is same i.e., the subtle dust that appears in the light within the mesh is called 'Raja’. The thirtieth part of ‘Raja’ is calledasParamanu.[4,5] There is no clear mention of Payyaman (measurement of length) in Ayurveda, but words like Angul, Vitasti, Aratni, Vyam etc. are mentioned at many places, which are described in Lilavati, Kautilya Arthashastra, Amarkosha. The smallest unit in this is considered to be Angula i.e. width of a finger.[6] The term Payyaman is not there in text Hastyayurveda but there is description of measurement of length which we have discussed about in this article.

Pramana (measurements) have an important role especially in defining various aspects related to diet and drug. Therefore, a comparative analysis of different types of measurements described in Hastyayurveda, Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita is being done in present article.

Comparison of measurements of weight described in Hastyayurveda with these in Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita (Table No. 1)

1. Smallest unit of measurement mentioned in Hastyayurveda is Paramanu which is similar as mentioned in Magadha mana of Sharangdhar

Table 1: Comparison of Measurement of Weight

Hastyayurveda[5]Charak Samhita[7]Sharangdhar Samhita[4]
8 Sachulika phala1 Sarshapa6 Marichi1 Rakta Sarshapa6 Marichi1 Rajika
3 Rajika1 Sarshapa
8 Sarshapa1 Yava8 Rakta Sarshapa1 Tandula8 Sarshapa1 Yava
2 Tandula1 Dhanya -masha
2 Dhanya-masha1 Yava
4 Yava1 Kakini4 Yava1 Andika4 Yava1 Gunja /Ratti / Rakti
4 Kakini1 Masha4 Andika1 Mashaka/ Hema/ Dhanyaka6 Gunja1 Masha / Rajmasha / Hem / Dhanyak
4 Masha1 Shana3 Mashaka1 Shana4 Masha1 Shana/Tank / Dharan
4 Shana1 Suvarna2 Shana1 Dranksha na / Kola / Badara2 Shana1 Kola / Kshud- rak/ Vataka / Drakshana
2 Drankshana1 Karsha/ Suvarna/ Aksha/ Bidalpadak/ Pichu/ Panital/ Tinduk / Kavalgraha2 Kola1 Karsha/Pani- manika / Aksha / Aksha pichu / Panitala/Kinch itpani/Tinduka/ Vidal padaka / Shodashika/Ka rmadhya/ Hans pada / Suvarna
4 Suvarna1 Pala2 Suvarna1 Palardha/ Shukti/Ashtamika2 Karsha1 Shukti/ Ashtmika/ Ashtamansha
2 Palardha1 Pal/Mushti / Prakunch/ Chaturthika/Bilva/Shodas -hika/ Aamra2 Shukti1 Pala / Amra/ Mushti/Chatur-thika/ Prakun-cha / Shodashi /Bilva
4 Pala1 Kudava2 Pala1 Prasrut/ Ashtamana2 Pala1 Prasruta / Ardhanjali
4 Pala1 Anjali/ Kudava2 Prasrata1 Kudava / Anjali / Ardha saravak/Ashta mana/ Ashtashukti
4 Kudava1 Prastha2 Kudava1 Manika2 Kudava1 Manika /Sarava
4 Kudava1 Prastha2 Manika1 Prastha
4 Prastha1 Aadhaka4 Prastha1 Aadhaka4 Prastha1 Aadhaka/ Bhanjan/ Kanspatra
4 Aadhaka1 Drona4 Kansa1 Drona / Armana/ Nalv ana/ Kalasha/ Ghata/Unman4 Aadhaka1 Drona/ Kalansh/Nalvana/ Unmana/ Ghata / Rashi
4 Drona1 Manika----
4 Manika1 Khari2 Shurpa1 Goni/ Khari/Bhara4 Droni1 Khari
100 Pala1 Tula100 Pala1 Tula100 Pala1 Tula
----30 Parmanu1 Vanshi
--6 Dhvanshi1 Marichi6 Vanshi1 Marichi
--8 Prastha1 Kansa--
--2 Ghata1 Shurpa/ Kumbha--
--32 Shurpa1 Vaha--
----2 Drona1 Shurpa/ Kumbha
----2 Shurpa1 Droni/ Vahi/ Goni
----2000 Pala (20 Tula)1 Bhara

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Samhita. Acharya Charaka considers smallest unit of Magadha Mana as ‘Dhvanshi’.

2. Sachulika Phal and Kakini are the Manas which are mentioned in Hastyayurveda and are not explained in Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita.

3. According to Charak and Sharangdhar, 4 Yava is equal to 1 Andika and 1 Gunja respectively and according to Hastyayurveda, 4 Yava is equal to 1 Kakini. From this we can conclude that Kakini is of same value of Andika and Gunja.

4. According to Charak and Sharangdhar, 2 Kudav equals to 1 Manika but according to Hastyayurveda, 4 Drona equals to 1 Manika.

5. According to Charak, 32 Prasthae., 4 Kansa equals to 1 Drona whereas according to Sharangdhar and Hastyayurveda 4 Aadhak i.e., 16 Prastha is equals to 1 Drona.

Comparison of Measurements of Weight described in Hastyayurveda with Metric System

A comparative presentation of measurements of weight described in Hastyayurveda is being done with presently accepted metric system (Table No. 2).

Table 2: Comparison of measurements of Weight with Metric System

Hastyayurveda[5]A.P.I.[8] (Metric Equivalents)
8 Sachulika Phala1 Sarshapa1.95 mg
8 Sarshapa1 Yava62.5 mg
4 Yava1 Kakini125mg
4 Kakini1 Masha1 g
4 Masha1 Shana4 g
4 Shana1 Suvarna12 g
4 Suvarna1 Pala48 g
4 Pala1 Kudava192 g
4 Kudava1 Prastha768 g
4 Prastha1 Aadhaka3 kg 73 g
4 Aadhaka1 Drona12 kg 228 g
4 Drona1 Manika-
4 Manika1 Khari-
100 Pal1 Tula4 Kg 800 g

Comparison of measurement of Length described in Hastyayurveda with metric system (Table no. 3).

In ancient texts, the linear measurements are ruled by body parts i.e., width of finger, length of forearm etc. and distance by number of steps. But today, there are many measuring parameters are available by which we can easily calculate the length. In Hastyayurveda, there is detailed description of

linear measurements. Comparative presentation of linear measurements described in Hastyayurveda is being done with presently available metric system.

Table 3: Comparison of Measurements of Length with Metric System

Hastyayurveda[5]Metric Equivalents
1 Parmanu1/30 Raja-
8 Paramanu1 Trasarenu0.00079mm
8 Trasarenu1 Ratharenu0.0063mm
8 Ratharenu1 Valagra0.05mm
8 Valagra1 Liksha0.41mm
8 Liksha1 Yuka3.25mm
8 Yuka1 Yava26 mm[9]
8 Yava1 Angula1.95 cm[8]
6 Angula¼ Aratni10.47 cm
24 Angula1 Aratni41.91 cm[10]
12 Angula1 Vitasti22.86 cm[10]
2 Vitasti1 Kishku45.72cm
2 Kishku1 Dhanu3-4m[11]
1000 Dhanu1 Krosha3 km[12]
2 Krosha1 Gavyuti3.65 km[13]
4 Gavyuti1 Yojan12.8 km[14]

Some References of Utilization of Parimana in text Hastyayurveda[5]

1. To increase the digestive fire - Gud (jaggery) mixed with Tandula (Rice) - start the dose from Pala and gradually increase upto Kudava, then increase the amount of jaggery and rice to two times, three times and four times.

2. In text Hastyayurveda, there is reference of amount of diet w.r.t. size of elephant.[10] (Table no 4). In considering that human beings necessitate an appropriate amount of meals tailored to their individual height and weight, animals also require a specific amount of meal for their healthy life. The amount of food also varies with appetite.

Table 4: Amount of diet of elephant w.r.t. their size.

Measurement of elephant in Aratni(Height X Length X Circumference)Amount of meal
7 X 9 X 107 Drona
6 X 8 X 96 Drona
5 X 7 X 85 Drona
4 X 6 X 74 Drona
3 or 2 Aratni height3 or 2 Drona
The amount of meal (in Drona) is same as height of the elephant (in Aratni).

3. Quantity of different Rasa in diet of elephant.-

  • Madhura, Lavana, Amla and Kashaya Rasa in 2 Palika/ Aratni amount.
  • Katu Rasa in 1 Karsha amount.
  • Tikta Rasa in 2 Karsha amount.

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4. Amount of Rasa in elephants for healthy life.

  • Madhura - 6 Pala
  • Tikta - ½ of Madhura i.e., 3 Pala
  • Katu - ½ of Tikta i.e., 1.5 Pala
  • Kashaya - 1/6 of Katu i.e., 0.25 Pala
  • Lavana and Amla - 1/6 of Kashaya i.e., 0.04 Pala.

5. The strength of elephant on the basis of distance covered by them is mentioned in the text which shows the reference of Payyamana in Hastyayurveda. (Table no.5)

Table 5: Distance covered by elephant according to their strength.

StrengthMale ElephantFemale Elephant
Superior10 Yojana7 Yojana
Medium7 Yojana5 Yojana
Inferior5 Yojana4 Yojana

Conclusion

Hastyayurveda written by sage Palkapya is one of the oldest and available text dealing with diseases and their treatment in elephants. Some scholars consider it to be placed in Ramayana Kaal, while some date it back to Purana Kaal and some historians date it to 11th century AD. There is detailed description of measurement of weight and measurement of length in Hastyayurveda. A comparative analysis of these measurements with those described in Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita reveals that the fundamental concepts and the majority of measurement units are similar across all three texts. There is slight difference in the smallest unit of measurement being ‘Paramanu’ in Hastyayurveda and Sharangdhar Samhita as compared to Dhvanshi in Charak Samhita. Sachulika phal has been considered as smallest unit of weight in Hastyayurveda in place of Marichi of Charak Samhita and Sharangdhar Samhita. Thus, in spite of differences in the units of measurements the basic concept of measurements appears to be same in all the three texts.

References

1. Sharma Mahesh Chandra, Hastyayurveda A Complete Treatise on Elephant, Bull.Ind. Inst.Hist.Med.Vol.XXXVI-2006 pp 145-158.

2. Geeta N., Hastyayurveda, Elephantology and its ancient Sanskrit sources, Wisdom Library.

3. Sharma Shivadatta. Hastyayurveda Prastavana. In: Palkapyamunivirachito Anandashram Press, 1894.

4. Shrivastava Shailja. Mangalacharan, Pratham Khand. In: Sharangdhar Samhita. Chaukhamba Orientalia, Varanasi, Edition 2016. Pg. no. 6-8.

5. Sharma Shivadatta. Annasamachar Adhyay, Pratham Khand. In: Palkapyamunivirachito Anandashram Press, 1894, Shlok no. 44-49, 52-55, 27-31,61-65, 67-70, 101-104.

6. Sharma Rajendra Prasad, Moharpal Meena. Mana In: Bhaishajya Kalpana Vigyan. Jagdish Sanskrit Pustakalay, 2ndedition,2020, pg. no. 39.

7. Kale Vijay Shankar. Danti Dravantikalpa Adhyay, Kalpasthana. In: Charak Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, Delhi, Reprint edition 2016. (CS.K. 12/84-94)

8. Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Department of Ayush, New Delhi, 2008. Part 1, Vol. 6, Appendix 6 (Weights and Measures).

9. https://www.sizes.com/units/yava.htm (11:00am, 02-02-2024)

10. https://www.ayurtimes.com/ayurvedic-measurements/ (11:15am, 02-02-2024)

11. https://hi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81 (11:55am, 02-02-2024)

12. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kos_(unit) (12:18 pm, 02-02-2024)

13. https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/gavyuti (12:50 pm, 02-02-2024)

14. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yojana (01:30 pm, 02-02-2024)


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