netra prakashika is a manual on the ancient Indian management of eye diseases, written in 6th century Dc. effort to trace the manuscript and publishing it was a challenge. The experiences of the editor Dr Udaya Shankar is narrated in the paper prsented at 5th natonal seminar on medcial anthropology held at Puttur, Karnataka

1. TRANSLATION OF AN AYUREDIC
MANUSCRIPT –
A CASE STUDY OF NETRA
PRAKASHIKA
Dr. Nadibailu Udaya Shankar, MD (Ayu),
Prof, KVG Ayurvedic Medical College, SULLIA

2. medical manuscripts
The lost treasure of medical
The lost treasure of1

3. Medical research in ancient India

5.  Dhanwantari - Chikitsa Tatwa Vignana, Divodasa - Chikitsa
Darpana, Kashiraja- Chikitsa Kaumudi, Ashwini Twins -
Chikitsa Sara Tantra, Nakula- Vaidyaka Sarvaswa,
Sahadeva- Vyadhi Sindhu Vimardana
 Yama Raja- Jnanarnavam Maha Tantra, Chyavana Rishi-
Jivadana, Janaka Yogi- Vaidya Sandeha Bhanjana Chandra
suta – Budha - Sarva saara
 Jabala - Tantra saraka; Jajali Muni- Vedanga sara tantra
 Paila - Roga Nidana, Karabha- Sarva dhara tantra,
 Agasthya Muni- Vaidya nirnaya tantra

7. Manuscript Resource Centers
 57 manuscript resource centers in India and 22 institutions outside
India with huge manuscript collections
 In south India, 15 such centers
 AP – Hyderabad, Tirupati
 TN- Tanjor, Chennai, Kanchi, Tirur
 Kerala – Thiruvananthapura, Thripunathira
 Karnataka- Mysore, Hampi, Shravana Belagola, Shivamogga
Bangalore
 Database of more than 2 lakh manuscripts available in Karnataka
 Less than 2% medical manuscripts preserved

8. Oriental Research Institute Mysore
 Established in 1891 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, with the
objectives of collecting, preserving, deciphering and
critically editing palm leaf and paper manuscripts.
 Housed in the architecturally attractive Jubilee Hall
built in 1887, it was a part of the Department of
Education until 1916, and then became part of the
newly established University of Mysore.
 It has covered 69,064 manuscripts

9. Kannada University at Hampi
 The Manuscriptology Department has 4,000 very
rare manuscripts.
 It has documented 50,718 manuscripts most of
which are written in Sanskrit or Kannada scripts
covering a wide range of subjects like Religion,
Astrology, Philosophy, Vastu Shastra , songs,
folklore etc.

10. National Institute of Prakrit Studies and
Research, Shravanabelagola
 It has a rich library of 20,000 volumes.
 Documented 50,708 manuscripts

11. Keladi Museum and Historical
Research Bureau, Shimoga
 The Museum has a library about 1,000 paper
and palm leaf manuscripts and copper plate
inscriptions belonging to the Vijayanagara and
Keladi eras. So far it has documented
14,808 manuscripts.

12. Mahabharata Samshodhana
Pratishthanam, Bangalore
 Started in 1997, by a group of techies working
in various MNCs, involved in research and
development of new tools and technologies
and in distributing them as freeware.
 It has documented so far 59,886 data of
manuscripts

13. 2 About this manuscript

14. Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal Library,
Thr
Library contains very rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, books, maps
and painting on all aspects of arts, culture and literature.
The Library has collection of 59,000 manuscripts including illustrated
manuscripts, which reflect the history and culture of South India.
A total number of 24,432 titles are catalogued and prepared 35,914 electronic
data of manuscripts

15. Netra Prakashika
 Only 3 Sanskrit MSS available- Tajavur Saraswati
Mahal Library
 Exclusive MSS on diagnosis and treatment of eye
diseases
 Presented as a dialogue between HAYAGRIVA
and NANDI
 Complete 12 chapters and missing 2 chapters

16. Pujya Pada - the author
Pujyapada, A Jain Muni, (Devanandi)
belongs To Sixth And Seventh Century
Wrote A Treatise In Sanskrit On Medicine -
Continued To Be An Authority for centuries in
Karnataka
Remained Immortal In Kanakagiri, A Jain
Pilgrimage Centre In Karnataka (Near
Mysore).

17. A long 28 years with this mss
 1988 – first look into the mss
 1989 – first book review Arya vaidyan, a research journal of AVS Kottakkal
 1990 – series of write ups on Netra prakashika
 2000 – first print edition by CCRAS, New Delhi, without editing and translation
 2001- 2008 – presentations in research conferences on Netra prakashika
 2009 – 2010 – English translation prepared
 2011 – approached Chaukhamba Vishwabharati for purblising
 2012- editing with illustration and DTP
 2013 – book printed and published

18. Specialties of this book
3 Specialties of
Netra Prakashika

19. Videha has described 76, Karala 80, Vagbhata
94 and Satyaki 96 eye diseases
Netra Prakashika has accounted highest
number – 100 ailments in the eye.
Each disease is described with causes, clinical
features and management
One hundred eye diseases

20. Eye diseases are classified based on the site of affection and
the etiological factors as follows:
Eyelids And Eyelashes 24 ,Shukla Sandhi 09
Shweta Mandala 13, Krishnamandala 05
Diseases Produced As A Complication 22
Extending To Entire Eyeball 20
Diseases Disturbing Vision 07
Classification

21. Diagnosis Of Vataja Dristi, Pittaja Dristi,
Kaphaja Dristi
Clinical Judgment On Shuddha Dristi And
Ashuddha Dristi ( Normal And Abnormal
Eye).
Diagnostic method of doshas in eye

22. The eye complications due to improper
treatment of other diseases are given due
importance.
A separate chapter for the diagnosis and
management of them– nana kritrima
sanjata netra roga
IOTROGENIC -Doctor induced eye diseases

23. A comprehensive account of ten types of pilla roga(chronic
and relapsing diseases of the eyelids)
and thirteen types of patala roga (diseases of conjunctiva).
Chronic eye diseases

24. Eye diseases are classified based on the presenting
symptoms like disturbance to the appearance of
conjunctiva ( drik shukla rupa), corneal opacities
(pushpa) etc.,
Special classification

25. A great stress is laid upon the bad deeds as a
precipitating causes of incurable eye
diseases.
Karma shanty –
A novel therapeutic regimen with charity,
prayers and worship of God are specified to
restore health.
Karmaja netra roga

26. The different stages of the eye diseases with a risk
of blindness is depicted in great detail.
Starting from Slight Pain, Redness, Pus
Discharge,dryness, Softening Of The Lens,
Staphyloma, Foulsmell, Phthisis And Blindness.
Immediate attention at the earliest stage is
advocated
Ten stages leading to blindness

27. Eye diseases are clinically classified as
• Roga Bala Kala (Acute Stage),
• Roga Kaumara Kala (Sub Acute Stage)
• Roga Vardhakya Kala(chronic).
Disease with a long duration history ( chronic) is considered
as of guarded prognosis
Importance of Quick Action

28. EYE DISEASES as complications of
• Metabolic diseases,
• Malignant Tumors,
• Liver Diseases
• Nutritional deficiencies
Complications of systemic diseasesEye

29. There are details of several ocular tumours and
diseases that reduce the visual perception
Ocular tumors and diseases of vision

30. Four separate chapters on herbo mineral
formulations to treat eye diseases. Both local
and systemic routes of drug administration.
A list of more than 30 eye drops and 20
specialized oils are described
Therapeutic excellence-1

31. In addition to herbs, many minerals and
animal products were used to prepare
medicines. Mercury was extensively
used in local eye drops
Therapeutic excellence-2

32. Nutritional support to the eye: with carrot and other
green leaves, yoga and pranayama are explained
separately in netra traniya adhyaya.
Prevention of eye diseases

33. 4 Challenges and opportunities

34. Many sentences were incomplete, some had spelling mistakes and
grammatical errors.
Some of the formulations had secret codes of proportion of
ingredients
Extracting a scientific meaning found to be difficult in some verses
Meanings were ambiguous in some places
Some words were not understandable at the given context
Translation

35. Chapters were incomplete, without proper
numbering of verses.
Chapters without a title
Disease numbers were not matching in the
beginning and at the end
Names of the same condition were dissimilar in
different sections
Editing - 1

36. Comparing the clinical description with modern
ophthalmology was difficult.
Tried to provide illustrations and color photographs to
every condition mentioned in the work
Tried to supplement annexure on diseases and the
treatment options
Tried to list the minerals and animal products mentioned in
different formulations
Illustration

37. The Central council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) controls
ayurveda education in India.
It was convinced about the importance of this book and
may include this as one of the reference books for
the study of eye diseases in ayurveda
Acceptance from authorities

38. Clinical studies on Diagnosis of eye diseases based on NP
Preparation of medicines based on the formula mentioned in
NP
Clinical Research on the effect of these drugs in specific eye
diseases, at least as a part of post graduate and Ph D
thesis
Scientific studies on the pharmaco dynamics and pharmaco
kinetics of the compounds quoted in NP
Follow up work under progress

39. There are hundreds of books like
netraprakashika, waiting for your attention.
Be kind to them
5 Take home message

40. Take home message
 Any little effort today in literary or clinical field
will be a great contribution for tomorrow
 Be blessed by the sages and
be blessed by generations to come
by your active participation in medical
anthropology

41. Dr. Udaya Shankar - 9449627464
THANK YOU
ORGANISERS AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR PATIENT
HEARING