SHALYA TANTRA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE AYURVEDIC SURGICAL HERITAGE
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Keywords
Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra, Surgery, Sushruta
Abstract
Shalya Tantra, one of Ayurveda’s six classical branches, encompasses surgical procedures aimed at eliminating causes of pain or disease from the body and mind. The discipline achieved remarkable advancement under the legendary surgeon Sushruta, whose seminal text, the Sushruta Samhita, marked the “Golden Age of Surgery” in ancient India. His comprehensive work covered general surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, gynecology, ENT, and plastic surgery, representing a holistic and advanced surgical science.
The Sushruta Samhita systematically details surgical instruments, dissection, wound management, anesthesia, sterilization, and post-operative care. Sushruta pioneered absorbable sutures, innovative incisions, fracture and dislocation management, bloodletting, and reconstructive procedures like rhinoplasty, earning him the titles “Father of Surgery” and “Father of Plastic Surgery.” His focus on practical training through models, cadavers, and simulations demonstrates an early system of hands-on education. Concepts of asepsis, ethics, and structured operative protocols continue to parallel modern surgical principles.
This review highlights the enduring relevance of Sushruta’s surgical wisdom, showing how Shalya Tantra remains a living, guiding tradition in contemporary surgical practice.
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Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Shalya Tantra, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Dinesh Kumar Meena
Assistant Professor, Department of Siddhant Darshan, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India